1. The cycle of the Russian vector of the foreign policy followed by Paris, put into motion in 1998 with the advent of the Ekaterinburg Triangle, is coming to its completion. The 'triangle' ought to fix Russia's special position in the European continent under the conditions of uncertain reliability of changes it was being underwent. The French-German tandem aspired also to gain enough weight to stabilize the 'Greater Europe'.
2. Moscow gives meaning to the context of the multi-polar world concept maintained in Paris, the concept in which it is difficult to draw some distinction between multi-polarity and many-sidedness. So, Russia considers itself to be an independent power pole, and sees many-sidedness just as the means to support its influence, rather than as the method to solve international problems.
3. The significant part of the French elite indeed think Vladimir Putin being the last 'statesman' on the international scene. At that, the significant part of the media and intellectuals treat him with deep animosity and do not hesitate to perceive him as some analogue of Stalin's. He has come out of the state security structure, that is why he is indelibly marked with the 'original sin' of his serving the KGB.
4. Vladimir Putin's Russia is not a peaceful country, but it fundamentally adheres to the logic of direct non-interference (this also allows for possible option in the Ukrainian crisis understanding), trying to avoid useless clashes. It tries - sometimes clumsily, sometimes successfully - to accommodate itself to the changing international environment. Its elites are divided among various schools of thought at what king of relations with the West are to be developed.
5. There is a need to reevaluate Russia's pivotal role on the Euro-Asian space. The Russian policy might as well catalyze the transatlantic and pan-European policies and support the move towards the Euro-Asian policy. This policy, that have not been named yet, might see Russia as a necessary part in any undertaking that concerns the Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, the Central Asia, and as a part in the equation to be constructed with China and India.