[HappyDreamer]

Do you need to write things like "Russia thinks the West ..."?

By doing so it sounds as if you group the people living in Russia, together with Putin.

But this maybe-invasion would be the deed of a dictator and his men. Not Russia-the-people. The people suffer under Putin.

[uejfiweun]

When I say "Russia" I am talking about the government of Russia, just like how people often use "Americans" when talking about the USG, or "China" when talking about the CCP. I would actually bet that average Russian and American people probably have a lot more in common with each other than they do with their political leaders and elites.

[HappyDreamer]

> I would actually bet that average Russian and American people probably have a lot more in common

Yes definitely. Thing is, when someone writes "Russia" but in fact means "Putin and his men", or writes "China" but means "the CCP",

then I'm afraid this pushes the people (ordinary citizens) living in those places,

away from the people in Europe and the US.

Because when you write "Russia" and "China", they likely think about that, as including them -- they'd feel that anything critical, was criticizing them too.

Whilst if one writes "Putin and his men", then, ordinary people living in Russia will clearly see that you don't have anything against _them_ -- that you might even be their friend. And maybe one day they (the people in Russia) and the West together can try to do something about Putin.