Abstract: Since the mid-1980s, Russia has experienced repeated setbacks with the diplomacy of "going west". The results of Gorbachev's "new thinking" were the collapse of the Soviet Union as well as the decline and fall of the Soviet Communist Party. Yeltsin's diplomatic strategy was "leaning to one-side", which was leaning towards the Western countries headed by the United States. However, this could not win Americans' trust. With the expansion of NATO and the breakout of Kosovo war, Russia-US relations hit the rock bottom. Putin tried to take advantage of the September 11 attacks to move closer to the West. After a short term of Russia's return to the Western society, Russia and America ended in confrontation after the war between Russia and Georgia. The Ukraine crisis in 2014 resulted in Russia's annexation of Crimea, but Russia was beset with difficulties and troubles both at home and abroad due to the sanctions imposed by United States and Europe. By this time, the relation between Russia and the West has undergone a fundamental change, marking the end of Russian foreign policy of going west.

Key words: Russia, the West, diplomatic relations