So, the task for American foreign policy is actually not as simple as it may seem at first glance.1. China is aiming for the position of global hegemon currently held by the United States. The first step toward this is Chinese expansion in Southeast Asia, whose success would mark the beginning of America’s irreversible decline and China’s rise to the top.2. China feeds off Russian resources and enjoys exclusive control over Russia. Separating Russia from China has not been possible (this could be done by splitting Russia into parts, but America is not yet ready for such a radical approach). Russia’s growing dependence poses a threat to the U.S.3. The U.S. has no good solution for countering China and is constantly searching for one. But if China sees Russia not merely as a satellite but essentially as a vassal, a dependent country, then there is no solution at all. No one knows how China would fight (its last land war was half a century ago, and its last naval war one and a half centuries ago, both failures for China). Everyone, however, knows how Russia fights: it overwhelms its opponent with a million corpses.4. That is why the U.S. fears a collapse of Russia, which explains its caution regarding sanctions and other forms of pressure. Both scenarios — collapse of Russian power or consolidation of authority in Russia — would push it into China’s embrace. China has calculated and planned everything perfectly. What is America to do now?So, do not blame Americans for indecision. The fate of the world at large, and America in particular, is at stake. Caution and careful judgment are required.What should we do? Show the Americans a third path, which some Europeans already see: the decolonization and de-imperialization of Russia. This task is extraordinarily difficult.SourceAbout the author. Valerii Pekar, lecturer at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy.The editorial team does not always share the opinions expressed by blog or column authors.