Well, I think it's important to remember here that Russia has no functional government. It is a kleptocracy dominated by raw power politics, which happen to wear the skin of governmental legitimacy. "Courts". "Federal Assembly". Except the courts don't find you guilty unless you are on the wrong side of the powers-that-be, and the assembly rubber-stamps things already decided. Putin looks out for Russian interests, but Russian Interests appear to also play second fiddle to first ensuring that the group of former-KGB oligarchs are happy and on-board.

Russia's political context demands that we do no more than be on friendly terms with them at arms' length. No closer relationship is possible with a country in which there is no rule of law.

I don't like that this is true, and I wish your sentiment were possible, but it is not.