Truth or not, if it's good for Soviet's national interests, then it's good that Putin is going for it.
When you think about geopolitical problems for other countries, you have to keep the best interest of the other country in mind. You shouldn't criticize Putin because he did something that's good for Russia but bad for American influence just because you are American or one of the friendly Anglo-Saxon 5-Eyes countries.
Giving them an advice that's good for you, but bad for them, is just hypocrisy.