A number of talking heads have expressed this opinion recently. Shekhovtsov mentions Emmanuel Macron, and Edward Lucas in this Swedish article…

Below is an electronic translation of the subheading:

As the increasingly authoritarian Moscow blindly strikes and strikes for a place in the emerging multipolar world, the country seems to be on the verge of being transformed into a pacifier for Beijing .Only a madman thinks it would be good for Europe with a huge, nuclear-armed proxy superpower acting in the interests of China and the Chinese industry. It is therefore important that European leaders, instead of pushing Russia into the arms of Beijing, consider how they can integrate Russia into a major Europe. But the current corrupt and aggressive leadership in Moscow is pointless to speak with. Therefore, the hope lies in cultivating a European identity – especially with the Russian youth. Europe should regard today’s Russia as a misguided lamb that will eventually return to its European flock, under the conditions of the Western countries, says Shekhovtsov.

In translation, Europe (whatever is meant by that, probably the EU) should continue treating Russia like shit, while we continue to poison the minds of the Russian youth.

I don’t think the Westerners don’t fully realise what they are up against, and Eastern sycophants like Shekhovtsov are too cowardly to treat this matter rationally.