who is really threatening

Geographically (once again) Russia looks like it could be a major threat to Europe, looking at it on a map it would appear that the Russian bear would have a likely chance of crushing Europe, however the Soviet Union has long gone and today this couldn't be more further from the truth, NATO has no real reason to exist except to promote American military dominance around the world, political rhetoric calling Russia our friend rings hollow considering that NATO states seem to be closing in on all sides of the Russian border, as if it still contains the communist pandemic that needs to be prevented from spreading!



While NATO members have a bigger population and an all around much bigger military than Russia does Europe is as densely populated as the main concentration of the 142 millions Russians in Russia which are focused mainly in the west of the country.



Luckily the Ukraine and Georgia were prevented from joining NATO, as that would have really technically militarily encircled Russia, this would make Russia hesitant and (rightfully so) directly threatened.



Bottom Line: The actions of NATO and the EU are not within the bounds of realism, and invoke all sorts of fears in Russia. Some of these are justified and some are not. If the western blocs are not acting rationally in the context of history, the logical thing for the Russians to believe is that they are in danger.