Just in case there were any doubts

MOSCOW — President Dmitri A. Medvedev of Russia on Sunday laid out what he said would become his government’s guiding principles of foreign policy after its landmark conflict with Georgia — notably including a claim to a “privileged” sphere of influence in the world.

...

Asked whether this sphere of influence would be the border states around Russia, he answered, “It is the border region, but not only.”

-- Andrew E. Kramer for The New York Times

This century just keeps getting better and better.

Just in case there were any doubts

MOSCOW — President Dmitri A. Medvedev of Russia on Sunday laid out what he said would become his government’s guiding principles of foreign policy after its landmark conflict with Georgia — notably including a claim to a “privileged” sphere of influence in the world.

...

Asked whether this sphere of influence would be the border states around Russia, he answered, “It is the border region, but not only.”

-- Andrew E. Kramer for The New York Times

This century just keeps getting better and better.