Russia doesn't represent a significant challenge to the West as Putin doesn't wield the same kind of control over Russia as democratically elected leaders do in Europe.
He can order the seizure of the Crimea but his control in other areas of the country are limited.
I think the speaker is trying to say that his power is more about putting Pussy Riot in jail than getting measures enacted consistently across the country. The kind of thing democratic governments with effective and uncorrupt civil service don't even think of.