Angela Stent, a Georgetown professor who served on the National Intelligence Council, examines Russia's foreign policy under Vladimir Putin from his rise to power through his annexation of Crimea and beyond. Stent traces how Russia emerged from the chaos of the 1990s to reassert itself as a global power, pursuing influence in the Middle East, challenging NATO expansion, and developing relationships with China and other partners who share its resistance to American hegemony. The book explains Russian strategy from a Russian perspective, showing how Putin and his advisors view their actions as defensive responses to Western encirclement rather than unprovoked aggression. Stent examines Russia's use of energy as a political weapon, its cultivation of far-right movements in Europe, and its interference in Western elections, placing these actions within a coherent strategic framework. She draws on her extensive contacts with Russian officials and analysts to provide insight into decision-making in Moscow. The book neither demonizes nor excuses Russian behavior but seeks to understand its logic and predict its future directions. Essential reading for anyone seeking to understand Russian foreign policy, the book provides the historical context necessary to make sense of current headlines.