——It has no geographic barriers to invasion——
Ahhhh.....That is my point so often challenged here.
Stalin asserted his power to take over eastern Europe and closed the Iron Curtain in recognition of the fact you stated. Another invasion of Mother Russia would be slowed and then stopped in say Poland
Putin is a great salesman. To sell the only products he has for export that are worth a damn he rattles a sabre and shows his stuff. He sells arms cheap.
Alcoholic men and women worked to the bone didn’t have time nor energy for families.
Being Putin and saving the very life of Mother Russia is Putin’s lot in life. It’s tough being Putin
Where do you get all of this? In 2021 the Russian manufactured export is set to overcome mineral export.