How does Russia's climate affect politics?

Answer 1

Russia (and before them the USSR) has significant concerns when it comes to climate. Their severely cold winters and proximity to the arctic make shipping and travel very difficult. They invaded Poland, China, Mongolia, and Afghanistan on separate occasions searching for more habitable land and access to non-frozen waterways.

Equally, their isolationist stance has often come from the international backlash from their "aggressive behavior" towards their neighbors.

It is also worth noting that in some respects, the leaders of Russia have often times used the weather and climate of the region to control their population.