“From the Russian perspective the differences between the two expansions are meaningless.”
Rogue states often act and think irrationally.
“They both have the same net effect of bringing an European adversary closer to its border.”
Russia is adversarial with all nations on its border that don’t comply with Russia and who wish to maintain relationships with other neighbors, so that is irrelevant.
Again, nations have the right to maintain their own sovereignty and relationships with whoever they wish. Conversely, Russia has zero rights to interfere with sovereign nations, because they happen to be “buffer” states with Russia.
Your comparisons are juvenile, at best. Ignorant at worst.
As was outlined earlier, Russia has a long standing mutually productive trade relationship with Finland, which is also a member in good standing with the European Union.
Your rhetoric here doesn't match reality.