I've never been to Russia. For the past 30 years, my experience is that for every 1 ex-pat like you, trying to build businesses in Russia, there were 10 Russians who left for countries where their talents are appreciated. Unlike other countries, I don't believe I've ever heard the words, "one day I'd love to move back to Russia." Small sample size of course.

To be fair, the West is hyper-competitive and the defense industry makes money demonizing Russia. Russia, to me, is only a small part of the disenfranchised becoming useful only as canon fodder. It's a truly sad place where the only opportunity for the poor is going to the front and sitting in a fox hole.

Put another way, a case can be made that Russia was never truly invited to join the West.