Russia wants to appear to be a world power, though I've no fucking idea why as it's a pointless and wasteful role.
To do that I suppose they decide to prop up the cheapest options out there with the most to gain from being given a hand job by them. And it annoys everyone else.
Russia does not want to seem like a world power, and it is a strong world power led by a powerful ruler. And it really annoys everyone, but they can not do anything.