We actually do make that distinction

Healthy people do, but too many do not.

Maybe places where the government reasonably represents more than a small sliver of society aren't used to making that distinction? Not sure if how much that is the case in Denmark or perceived to be the case there. But anyone reasonably used to the government not implementing even basic policies supported by 75%+ people in the country because some lobbying group says "no" should be used to differentiating between the government and the people it rules over. Would be like blaming the people of India for all of the atrocities committed by the British Empire when they were a colony.

Depends on what you mean by 'We'. Suggesting that Putin doesn't fully reflect the Russian people gets pretty hostile responses based entirely on the logic of the original post.

All russians are orcs, all americans are seppos, etc.