> They have (from memory) 13 countries on their borders they have all of them on one side (Western border), and majority of these countries are small and weak.

> They have (from memory) 13 countries on their borders they have all of them on one side (Western border), and majority of these countries are small and weak. Comparing to Germany, which is surrounded by potential enemies (I am talking about pre WW2 time), Russia had significant advantage.