It’s also worth noting that we are witnessing a split is between the US and Europe, as the world moves toward a multipolar order. The alliance between Russia and China will only keep getting stronger because they have a common goal of creating an economic bloc that cannot be sanctioned by the West. We can already see positive results as Russian economy is growing faster than Europe’s despite being cut off from Western markets. A direct implication the sanctions proving to be ineffective is that being integrated with the West offers little economic value. It is now possible for countries to thrive entirely outside the Western system.

The US seems to be adapting to the new reality. An attempt to normalize relations with Russia could be a recognition that the rise of the Global South is rendering the existing world order obsolete. The US is now positioning itself to have a say in the new multipolar system.

Meanwhile, Europe has failed to adapt and now faces the consequences of its hubris. Instead of proactively shaping its place in the emerging multipolar world, Europe will likely be forced to accept whatever terms are dictated to it, leaving it in a far weaker position than it could have been.