When the leaders of long-warring Armenia and Azerbaijan met at the White House on August 8, they initialed a peace agreement—not a final treaty, but a gateway to one. Together, these moves mark major wins for Armenia, Azerbaijan, and the United States. Despite the independence of Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan after the fall of the Soviet Union, Russia continues to view their borders as fluid markers of power, subject to revision at will. For decades, Armenia outsourced its security to Russia through the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). Russia uses the same tactics to keep Azerbaijan and Armenia under its influence.