“This is pure BS. If Russian elites wanted (Russian President Vladimir) Putin out, it would have happened in 2022,” Anton Barbashin, co-founder and editorial director at Riddle Russia, told the Kyiv Independent.

Why? Is the Russian elite incapable of changing its mind?

They’ve backed on tons of things before without admitting any wrongdoing, I don’t see how this is different

Oil. They want the oil. Also, it would be good if Iran could make the whole Epstein business go away.

Sure, but some people have more pride and integrity than others. My point is the US has less.

The US isn’t just leaving its allies behind, it’s actively threatening to attack them (see: Greenland / Denmark) even as it has signed a formal mutual-defense agreement. I’d say in practice the US is worse than Russia.