I think you both have valid points. Russia is not always a good global citizen. It’s had a history of ignoring protocol if it got in their way. They have had cheerleaders when they were Soviet, they have a few chearleaders now (ME, for example).

But we, in the West, and countries aligned with the West, fail to understand their motives. Like China, they have internal motives that while they look like they are strategizing against the West in particular, at times it’s just due to internal issues.

Russia didn’t anex Crimea to poke the West. They took it because not having it exposed them militarily (as well as domestically made them looked weak).

For all his faults, Kissinger understands those things better than most public figures in their public speaking (are willing to admit, at least).