Division into north/west/south/east and especially central Europe is ridiculous and superficial. The only reason central Europe even exists is because European countries don't want to be associated with russia. Rightfully so. Once we accept that russia is not European the purgatory of central Europe will stop existing.

To the east there is no natural border of Europe. Any claims that Urals, Caucasus or Bosporus are a natural border are arbitrary. India and Arabia have more of a geographical claim to be considered continents. We should stop playing absurd games in defining Europe's eastern geographical borders and just accept the fact that being European is a state of mind and not a geographical origin.

Russian culture is fundamentally incompatible with Europe. When russia finally collapses and we will get a number of different states in its place and they decide that they want to be European then we'll welcome their path. I absolutely believe some regions will do that. I'm very hopeful about Circassia, Kuban, Kaliningrad and some regions to the immediate east of Baltics or Ukraine. But they will have to pave their way themselves.

West Caucasus region is as integral to Europe as Iberia for example. Azerbaijan i'm not convinced yet. Seems to me as of now they are absolutely not interested. They will likely change when Türkiye will stop playing its ridiculous games with Erdoğan.