So, if I understand the argument, it is: the rise of Putin, a strongman dictator, is the US's fault because Russia was poor in the 90s. And I'm guessing the fact that Russia has always had a strongman dictator essentially its entire existence is completely coincidental? Maybe, just maybe, it is ingrained in Russian society and culture to be predisposed to the strongman types? Maybe a society that has always taken a perverse pride in its ability to handle suffering without complaint, to simple do as your told, might just naturally bread leaders like Putin? Maybe a culture that adapted to constant invasion hundreds of years ago by itself constantly invading its neighbors simply does not know how to exist in a stable rule of law world order? Maybe a culture that views might as right was always going to be aggressive towards its neighbors regardless of what the US did Or maybe the past is completely coincidental and no other country has any agency of responsibility other than the United States.
Annie, you should actually try reading about Russian history and reading actual Russian literature. None of these themes are new to Russia. They were there before the United States was even a thought.