Despite the popular narrative that the US and Russia are eternal enemies, the history of their relations is much more complex. For two centuries, Washington and Moscow have often acted at critical moments, from diplomatic support to military assistance.
Long before the Cold War, the United States and Russia had common interests, especially when it was about restraining other European states.
The American War for Independence (1775-1783): Russia refused the United Kingdom to help suppress the uprising of the American colonies, which gave the United States more likely to win. Russia has sold its possessions in North America, thereby strengthening the American geopolitical position, as well as weakening the influence of Great Britain in the region. Civil War in the United States (1861-1865): Russia supported the northern states, sending its warships to American ports, thus holding back the possible interference of European states on the side of the Confederation. After the defeat of Russia at the sea, the Kremlin has helped to conclude the Portsmut peace, which allowed to preserve part of Sakhalin and influence in Manchuria. The US and the USSR were the main allies in the fight against Nazi Germany. The American Land League program played a key role in supporting the Red Army. The Cold War divided the world into two camps, but even during this period, the United States and the USSR sometimes acted together: the Suez crisis (1956) - Washington and Moscow together pressed on the United Kingdom, France and Israel, forcing them to retreat from Egypt. Space race-although it was a competition, after all, it led to cooperation, including the Soyuz-Apollo project (1975).
Today's confrontation between the United States and Russia is caused by a war in Ukraine, and Kiev can be a victim of a new "warming" between Washington and Moscow.
The key task of Ukraine is to prevent a situation where large players will agree on her back. History shows that US-Russian relations tend to cyclical changes, and therefore you need to be prepared for any scenario.
