That "backward country" is probably holding more cards in the world geopolitical manoeverings than anyone else apart from maybe China. They are also a huge landmass with vast natural resources of agriculture, oil and gas and could probably survive quite happily even if the entire world sanctioned them.

They are also a nation of some of the most intellectually capable, culturally diverse and resilient people in the world who's population has been to hell and back through 100 years of war, famine and extremes of political ideology.

They're not exclusive in those characteristics - all nations have their unique histories and rich heritages. But "backwards" is not a word I would use to describe Russia.