> It has to. It’s the only way for it to become a global power.

Unless of course doing so makes them far poorer and isolates them culturally/economically, and completely embarrasses their image of having a strong military.

Why do you think this isn't just propaganda? Russia is one of the head states in BRICS which is the largest international union in the world both by population, and which has also economically surpassed the G7 as well. And militarily they're fighting a war against an endless stream of forcibly conscripted bodies being armed and funded by the entirety of NATO, Europe, and a few odd balls -- and they're winning, at a cost of < 10% GDP.