What happened from 1650-1795?

What do you mean ? Who do you have in mind?

A good point. Analogous to this type of conquest justification mythology is the similar stories put forward by the colonial powers in the C19 and C20 vis their conquering of Pacific nations, such as New Zealand and so on. Briefly, the propaganda put forward was that these races of 'noble savages' needed to be conquered and capitalised on not only under the Social Darwinism doctrine but also because of the perceived inherent flaws in their societies' makeup.

Isn't it funny how wrongdoing on a national level is always tempered by the perpetrator trying to justify their actions to afford a semblance of legitimacy?

Oh! It is interesting, Poland is still dreaming about its own little empire...

...and you Ruskies can't get over losing yours.

Come, come, tell us again something interesting about depopulating Russia! The point is that you lost it forever while the question with our near abroad is not so predetermined.

You better think about your near inside when the oil runs out. Your near abroad will meet China in Ural mountains and your imperial BS will end up fighting for Chukotka with Aleuts.

I doubt if I could have put it better myself, it is going to be like the old days when the Russians are going to have to scrape before their Asian overlords. When the Khans had the opportunity to pick their most choicest of Russian beauties(:

I am sure Russia is grateful though, after all they learnt everything they know about politics from their overlords.

You should choose the cause of our fall in your imagination after all. It should be either the shortage of oil and gas or "green energy". However it seems to me your just kidding yourself. All in all Russia is in the position of assailed fortress now. What may be more profitable for us than being the shining isle in the ocean of zombies? Be sure, we will overcome the situation, no one fit more than Russian for such purposes.