From Syria to Ukraine, new fault lines and tensions are offering the Kremlin fresh opportunities to expand its clout and advance its interests.
In Syria, the US military withdrawal in the face of a Turkish offensive leaves Russia as the ultimate power broker, allowing it to help negotiate a potential agreement between Syrian President Bashar Assad and the Kurds who were abandoned by Washington.
And in Ukraine, where the new president saw his image dented by a US impeachment inquiry, Russia may use the volatility to push for a deal that would secure its leverage over its western neighbour.
The Turkish offensive in northern Syria followed President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw US forces from the area, cold shouldering the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, the key US ally in the fight against the Islamic State group.
Washington's abrupt decision to ditch the Kurds contrasted sharply with Moscow's unwavering support for its ally Assad, which helped his government reclaim the bulk of the country's territory in a devastating civil war.
Along with military power, Russian President Vladimir Putin has relied on diplomacy to achieve his goals in Syria, reaching out to regional powers from Iran to Saudi Arabia, Israel and Turkey.
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NATO member Turkey has become a particularly important partner for Russia.
Even though the two countries have backed opposite sides in the Syrian conflict, they have pooled efforts to negotiate a de-escalation zone in the Syrian province of Idlib and co-sponsor talks on forming a committee that would draft a new Syrian constitution.
The Russia-Turkey rapprochement came as Ankara's relations with Washington grew increasingly chilly and were further strained over Turkey's recent purchase of Russian air defense missiles.
Turkey's offensive in Syria, which has drawn harsh criticism from the US and European Union, may now push Moscow and Ankara even closer.
"Russia wants to benefit from that operation, and one of the gains could be the strengthening of ties with Turkey," said Kirill Semenov of the Russian International Affairs Council.
"The harsh response from Washington, the EU reaction, the threat of sanctions against Turkey all play into Moscow's hands by making Moscow and Ankara even closer."