Since 2014 Russia has significantly intensified its foreign policy, but there is no clear strategy yet. During the Soviet era, Moscow competed with the United States for a global influence, for a while trying to become part of the West after 1991. Should Russia become a superpower again, how to balance domestic opportunities and foreign activity, and how to build relations with neighbors? Russian expert Dmitry Trenin examines the foundations on which Russia's relations with other countries are built. The foreign policy of Moscow during the rule of Mikhail Gorbachev, Boris Yeltsin, and Vladimir Putin is summarized. Analyzing the successes, failures, and mistakes of the recent past, the author suggests thinking about how Russia should build an independent and balanced foreign policy strategy in a rapidly changing world.