Really was a consideration all the way up until mid 00's. After 9/11 Russia warmed to NATO when they expanded the "war on terror" and even became a part of a permanent joint council.

Relations soured when Russia started dicking around in Ukraine and Georgia again in 04 and 08. Russia's version of soft power is basically empowering local oligarchs by giving them cushy oil/mineral deals and have them get involved in their respective countries politics. A big part of the orange revolution was kicking out the pro Kremlin oligarchs.

Russia's transition from soft to hard power has always been funding and supporting "separatist groups" like they did in Georgia and Ukraine. It's always the same fucking playbook.