[ycombinete]

> did not want his country to have to go through the usual application process and stand in line “with a lot of countries that don’t matter

> if and when Russia’s views are taken into account as those of an equal partner

Equal to who? To Putin this means equal to all others combined. Certainly not those other countries that don’t matter.

[okasaki]

The article certainly doesn't give that impression. But maybe you were there and so you have some special insight that the rest of us don't?