The red line for Putin has always been NATO, period, not democracy, not EU.
What about NATO is he scared of, do you think?
I already told you. The goal of NATO is encircle Russia and eventually suffocate it.
Putin himself says NATO in Ukraine is close enough for decapitating strike.
I personally think he does not believe that NATO would ever attack Russia.
So it's about surrounding Russia with puppet NATO states and harass Russia into submission. That's my theory. And I think Putin has the same theory.
And his latest "lecture" is consistent with that thinking. He clearly frustrated with all that harassment coming from Ukraine too. Don't forget about events in Kazakhstan. That too pissed off Putin and russians in general. He did not speak specifically about Kazakhstan, he mentioned it in general terms that all former republics choose to build their identity on trashing Russia. You know what? It pisses me off too!
So, your fucking CIA experts and CNN talking heads lie about russian views, harass and now worry about mental state of Putin. Well, if you had not behaved like total assholes you would not have to decipher his mental state.
Now, read this post over and over again until you remember it. I am sick and tired explaining the same thing over and over again.