His horizon of strategic planning has yet to recede this far away. But he can and will use existing infrastructure, leading from Siberia to Kazakhstan and China. Don’t you think that such pipelines weren’t built in 21st century? Russia invested significant share of its hydrocarbon rent, that is left after all preliminary rounds of theft ofc, in development of pipeline and LNG project in Asia-Pacific region. Sure, they’re caught somewhat unprepared by ferocity of Western sanctions, but not defenseless. Just like the Megarian Psephisma in 432 BC simply had added to increasing tensions between Athenians and Spartans before the Peloponnesian war broke out.

Also don’t forget that the lion’s share of Kazakhstan oil, gas, and uranium exports travels through Russian territory (article in Russian, though easy to read by your own after google translation).