Spiegel has a well-crafted interview with the Russian Defence Minister, Ivanov, where he uses our language, with some realism, to state that the West's mission in Afghanistan is a failure, that Russia is merely working for its own security and that they are reacting to Western expansion. Spiegel acts as a vehicle for Russian apologetics.
Russia does have peculiar problems with security due to its vast space. Yet, the shrill and thin skin of prestige motivates much of their statements and actions, despite Ivanov's mollifying tone. Note how he reacts over Georgia:
SPIEGEL: You have cancelled all air traffic to (the Georgian capital) Tiflis. Ivanov: These are not sanctions. We no longer operate direct flights to Tiflis because Georgian airlines owe us money. You were the ones who introduced us to the market economy in the 1990s. Now we are sticking to it and you come to us with accusations. We cannot accept the fact that Georgia continues to insult us. It is clear to us that the Georgian leadership is dragging NATO and the EU into its efforts to solve its internal problems.
It tells us more that Ivanov uses a German platform to portray Russia sympathetically.