Russia's Expansion

Russia underwent three primary stages of expansion during its development, the first of which involved expanding westward to the Pripet Marshes, northeast toward the Ural mountains, and away from the invasion corridors (the steppes and the North European Plain) to establish a better defense. During the second stage, Russia expanded south and east across the steppes up to the Urals and Caucasus Mountains and the Caspian Sea in order prevent Mongol invasion. Finally, Russia grew westward through the North European Plain, incorporating Ukraine and the Baltic territories.
The obvious advantage to the establishment of buffer territories is the improved defense of the core regions by serving to gradually weaken invading enemy forces as they pass
The North German Plain historically been Russia’s weakest geographic point and has been exploited by Napoleon, Wilhelm II, and Hitler.
Friedman states that the three principal reasons for the collapse of the Soviet Union were expanding too rapidly into Central Europe, stretching its resources; appearing to pose a threat to the remainder of Europe, resulting in the United States intervening; and engaging in an arms race with nations with significantly more powerful economies, which resulting in them being forced to divert resources from their own, damaging it severely.
The author argues that Russia’s historic cycles of expansion and contraction are purely a result of its geography. The region’s geopolitical disadvantages, including its lack of port access, inability to efficiently transport agricultural goods, and comparatively low population density force it to aggressively expand into Europe in order to maintain its influence, which then results in the amplification of its internal disorganization and inevitable results in contraction, beginning the cycle