It has been nearly four years since Russia attacked Ukraine on February 24, 2022, and now in October 2025. At first, it might think that this was a quick task, but as a result, Russia slowly realized that fighting with its neighbors at its doorstep was definitely the worst plan.

Look at the surrounding countries, had still remained a little neutral, now all pushed to the opposite side.Because of the United States, people play smarter, never on the continent of the Americas with Canada, Mexico these neighbors real pistols, all based on economic leverage to propel profits, this road is fun, the province is also in use.

Russia has now controlled about 19% of Ukraine¡¯s land, mainly concentrated in the eastern and southern regions. Ukraine has also remained on the side and has been resisting, and has recently been attacking Russia¡¯s fuel tanks and rear targets with drones.

The Russian army advanced slowly on the eastern front, such as in the direction of Zaporozhye and Donetsk, relying on gliding bombs and artillery fire to barely gain the upper hand, but at a high price. Ukraine's military responded with Western-aided weapons, such as the Haima rocket system and F-16 fighter jets, which will be in use from the summer of 2024, straining Russia's supply lines.

Both sides were missing, Russia mentioned the age of recruitment to 30 years old, also issued a high bonus contract troops, and Ukraine lowered the threshold to 25 years old, calling people from abroad. the war entered the fourth winter, energy issues began, Ukraine's nuclear power plant repair needed a temporary ceasefire agreement, Russian gas exports were also affected.

Russia¡¯s defense spending has grown a bit over the years, with a budget of 13.5 trillion rubles for 2025, up 25 percent from 2024, representing 6.3 percent of GDP. This money is mainly spent on frontline supplies, arms production and recruitment of the army, with total military spending of about 600 billion from 2022 to 2025.

On the surface, military factories are moving up and the economic data has not collapsed, but there are a lot of real problems.GDP growth from 3.6% in 2023, 4.1% in 2024, dropped to 1.1% in 2025 and budget deficit of 1.7%

Oil prices were good when it was high, and now the Western sanctions were tightened, and Russian oil companies like Ross Oil and Luke Oil, with profits falling, and exports being limited.War stopped, what about these military workers and veterans?Employment pressure is high, social structural imbalance, and the lives of ordinary people are getting more and more tight.

More troubling is the reaction of the neighboring countries. Finland and Sweden, the Nordic countries, who had remained neutral for decades, resulted in panic because Russia took action on Ukraine. Finland officially joined NATO on April 4, 2023, and Sweden followed closely on March 7, 2024.

These two countries joined together to give Russia more than a thousand kilometers of defense lines, NATO missiles and troops directly on the face.Other countries in Eastern Europe also followed, Poland, the Baltic three countries in these places, military spending straight line up, demanding NATO more deployment of weapons.

NATO will strengthen its deployment in the east after 2022, and member states have agreed to increase the defense budget to 5% of GDP by 2035. Russia wanted to establish its prestige by attacking Ukraine, but it backfired and drove all its neighbors into the NATO camp. Isn't this asking for trouble? Think about it, these countries were initially hesitant about Russia, but now they are all determined to move westward.

After World War II, the United States fought a lot of battles, Afghanistan fought from 2001 to August 30, 2021, Iraq invaded from March 2003 to end the major operations in 2011, but these are all overseas, never hard on the American continent with Canada or Mexico.

Why? Because the United States understands that fighting at home can easily disrupt the entire backyard, so it is better to use economic means to tie everyone up. After Trump takes office in 2025, his trade policies towards Canada and Mexico are typical examples.

On February 1st, a 25% tariff was directly imposed on imported goods from the two countries, mainly targeting key areas such as automobiles, steel and agricultural products. Except for energy exports from Canada, the tax rate is 10%, but the overall impact is not small. Mexico's economy is highly dependent on the U.S. market, and its exports account for a large proportion. As soon as this tariff is added, it immediately rebounds.

And the result? Canada and Mexico had to sit down and talk. On March 4th, the United States adjusted its policy to temporarily exempt goods that comply with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) from taxes. This combination of punches was accurate, forcing the two countries to give priority to their relations with the United States.

On January 17, Mexico had just signed an upgraded trade agreement with the European Union, with zero tariffs on most goods. However, once the United States waved a big stick, Mexico still had to go back and discuss with Washington. On October 25, Trump threatened to impose a 10% tariff on Canada because Canada launched an anti-tariff advertisement criticizing U.S. trade policy in Reagan's words.

Trump said directly, if you don't talk about it, you will raise taxes. This matter caused a lot of noise, but in the end Canada had to give in, because the lifeline of the economy was in the hands of the United States. Without fighting, you can make your neighbors obey, which is much more effective than sending troops.

Starting with Roosevelt's "Good Neighbourhood Policy", it emphasized friendship with Latin American countries, without military intervention, and instead with trade and aid.

After the Cold War, the United States paid more attention to the "democratic camp" and the "alliance of values", which actually tied its allies to the economic chariot. Compared with Russia, the United States has the highest military spending in the world, reaching US$149 billion in 2025, but it will not be spent indiscriminately on its doorstep. What about Russia? Military spending ranks third, at US$149 billion, but it is all spent on the battlefield in Ukraine, in exchange for economic weakness and alienation of neighboring countries.

NATO expansion is not an excuse for Russia to invade. In fact, Russia's actions accelerated NATO's eastward expansion. Ukraine did not threaten Russia, and NATO did not plan to attack, but as soon as Russia took action, it gave NATO reason to strengthen eastern defense.