What do you think the distinction is between Russia losing it's zone of influence and countries joining up with NATO? I agree with you and believe the Russians simultaneously.
Russia is losing its zone of influence because it didn't hold on to it tightly and the US took it. Pretty much the same thing happened to the British, although they got beaten down by the Germans first so they weren't in a position to do much more than pretend to resist.
Although in this case the US is much closer to the British analogue. They've got financial problems, they've got industrial problems, they've got a lot of upcoming challengers and their diplomatic mis-management could easily lead to a massive blow up that unseats them.
Really? You believe the Russian claim that it attacks its neighbours because they're mumbling about NATO membership?
Russia attacks its neighbours because it regrets its loss of a "zone of influence" at the end of the Cold War. Like all former imperial powers (I'm a Brit!), loss of empire is hard to swallow.