The scale of the recent Caucasus crisis cannot be compared with that of other armed conflicts in the post‐Soviet space or former Yugoslavia, not to mention the conflicts of the Cold War period. Triggered by regional developments, it is essentially the outcome of a clash of security interests between Russia and the US/NATO. One of the main conclusions that should be drawn by the West from the Caucasus experience is that security in Wider Europe cannot be achieved contrary to Russia’s interests. The lesson for Russia is that it should learn to actively create collective positions within the scope of international cooperation, because no single country can throw down a challenge to the whole world.