COUNTERBALANCE VS REBALANCE

Despite the on-spot cooperation on the Syria and Iran issues, contradictions between Russia and the West have become more pronounced in general. This is natural under the circumstances as Russia tries to distance itself from the West and find counterbalance in the East.

Experts expect the potential of the Asia-Pacific region in the future to have a stronger impact on Russian foreign policy than it does now, as the United States has been trenching its way to the East with a rebalancing strategy.

As the world's largest oil and gas producer, Moscow vowed to diversify its heavy dependence on the European markets. It has been narrowing the Euro-Atlantic window and widening the Asia-Pacific one.

There has not been a "breakthrough" in 2013 in Putin's eastward policy, but the ongoing moves are stable and on track, experts said, citing the strategic partnership of coordination with China, the tactical success in Russia-Japan ties with two sides holding their first "two-plus-two" meeting, as well as close military-technological cooperation with India and Vietnam.

Timofei Bardachyov, director of the Center for Comprehensive European and International Studies at the State University-Higher School of Economics, said Putin continued the traditions of Russian diplomacy to balance between West and East, serving as a bridge connecting Europe and Asia.

No one denies that Russia is a power of great potential. Despite a declining population and the structural weakness of economy eroding its strength, it is still an energy giant with vast landmass and nuclear weapons. It has a permanent seat and veto power at the UN Security Council.

With Putin's diplomacy, which is not aggressive or assertive, but peacemaking instead, Russia is on the way to revive its national glory and dream, define its international agenda and help construct a new world order.