Russia has been at the center of nearly every major foreign policy conversation in the United

States for decades. And there's a good reason for that. Russia's geography means that it borders

Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. From Tsarist Russia to the Soviet Union to Vladimir Putin's

Russia, Russia has been one of the great powers involved in nearly every major world event over

the last two centuries. But why does this matter? Why should you care?

Well, today, Russia is involved directly or indirectly in conflicts the world over, from Syria to Africa, from Ukraine to the Red Sea, all of which have significant impact on international politics,

America included. But there is enormous controversy surrounding Vladimir Putin's Russia.

Is it a country on the rise or a country in dire straits?

Is it a potential ally of the West?

Or is it seeking to restore its international status, even at the cost of war, an alliance

with America's enemies?

Is Vladimir Putin himself a corrupt oligarchic dictator or a rebel against the

liberalizing tendencies of an increasingly secular West?

Let's go through the top five

things you need to know about Russia today.

First, like China, Russia is in a state of demographic crisis. Every year, more people now die in

Russia than are born. In 2022, there were approximately 595,000 more deaths than births.

Russia suffers from a fertility rate of 1.5 births per woman.

Remember, it takes two just to maintain your population.

Russia's life expectancy actually dropped to 64 a couple of years ago,

partially as a result of COVID, partially as a result of extraordinary

rates of alcoholism. As the economist reported last year, quote, over the past three years,

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