Every major power considers itself to have a sphere of influence, allowing only its own interference in the internal affairs of other nations and rejecting the involvement of others. Russia views its sphere of influence as encompassing the former Soviet Union territories; otherwise, Putin wouldn’t have called the dissolution of the Soviet Union the greatest geopolitical tragedy of the 20th century. He has long sought to revive the nation's former glory. In the early 2000s, when Putin was still finding his footing, he couldn't stop some Eastern European countries from "leaving Russia and joining Europe." However, Russia's military actions in 2008 with the invasion of Georgia and in 2022 with the invasion of Ukraine have shown that it is determined to prevent any further losses in its sphere of influence.

However, the political tragedy for small nations often lies in striving for the seemingly impossible. Recently, Moldova held a presidential election along with a referendum on EU membership, in which the pro-European faction won with 50.39% of the vote. If this result is confirmed by the Supreme Court and enshrined in the constitution, the country could potentially join the EU by 2030. Moldova's efforts to escape Russia’s grip increasingly resemble Ukraine's path after 2014.