[coffeebeqn]

It is a voluntary alliance. Countries apply to join. They’re not coerced.

Small countries will and sovereignty also matters.

[TheCoelacanth]

Russia perceives small countries bordering them having sovereignty as an encroachment on its territory. Don't they realize that they are supposed to be Russian puppet states?

[koonsolo]

If Russia would play nice, maybe the countries around them wouldn't mind having win-win deals with them.

But somehow Russia thinks master-slave relationships are better.