“Relatively restrained, intervening primarily in actions right on its borders”. “Intervening”? You mean invading another country? Just because they share a border does give them the right. That would be like Canada “intervening” in the US by invading because we dislike Canadian bacon. 

Though Russia can instigate an action (war?) against the US they do not have the economic (industrial strength) means to go toe to toe with the US. Now China, they can go toe to toe with the US because of their population and economic industrial strength. Nations with a powerful Military may be a threat, but not as much as an economic industrial power with a military.