and we would still have enough resources to occupy the Baltic states.
And yet Russia lost controle over the Baltics (and other occuppied areas) because they could no longer afford it.
Gorbachev did not relinquish controle over them and the Warsaw Pact because he was such a nice man, but because the Soviet Union desperately needed Western money, food and medical supplies to avoid a self-inflicted catastrophy.. Which it received without showing the proper gratitude for it.
Once the bill is due for Putin's mismanagement and warmongering, Russia can only hope that the Chinese will bail them out. They can not count again on the generosity of the West.