The claim that Russia is a burden to its military and economic partners doesn’t fully hold up. China’s trade with Russia is booming—up 30% since 2022—despite not sharing tech. India’s oil imports from Russia hit a record 2M barrels/day in 2024. Partners like Iran and North Korea are also deepening military ties, sharing drones and missiles. Russia’s economy is strained by war, sure—GDP growth masks a 15% inflation spike—but its partners are still cashing in on discounted resources and arms deals. Isolation? Hardly.