“Russia thinks NATO is like their fifteen Republic countries, totally owned by the US”
Except NATO IS owned totally by the US, that is not even debatable
Nato is, but Europe isnt. You can argue that the EU (aka Germany) tries to “own” European countries but on the whole it doesnt. Europe is what its always been - a mass of squabbling cousins each “owned” by nobody but themselves.
And at the moment Europe (Nato, EU, or irregardless) is pro-Ukraine by a vast majority. The US is not directing Euro responses, which it cant even try to do given its very weak current leadership. Finland and Sweden and etc are making their own decisions.
Actually it isn't - the head of NATO is not an American. NATO does not involve itself in American wars by default - and that has been a cause of complaints on this very forum
NATO gives tiny Estonia an equal voice to the USA (another source of disgruntlement on this very forum)
this is UTTERLY unlike Russia's Federal republics.