"Russia between the West and the East" is a multifaceted historical topic. The main points of Russian foreign policy doctrine and Russia's place (the Russian Empire, the USSR, the Russian Federation) in world politics in the 18th and 19th centuries are presented. The articles are based on many new archival documents. A new analysis, a new interpretation of already known data, and new concepts for many significant global issues are proposed, with Russia in its various forms at the center.