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Blog Post: IS VLADIMIR PUTIN MAD, BRILLIANT OR ...: Added by Michael Grove at 9:50 on March 2, 2022

... deranged…

Added by Michael Grove at 9:39 on February 28, 2022

Comment on: Blog Post 'SUMMARY OF THE UKRAINE SITUATION TODAY': , officials have suggested that Vladimir Putin may use the May 9 holiday to repackage the war in Ukraine. Dramatic options include escalation through a formal declaration of war or general mobilisation – or de-escalating by proclaiming victory. Alternatively, Putin could offer up a “sandwich”, as one analyst put it, that praises the Russian army’s “victory” while preparing the population for a grinding and painful conflict as status quo. Ukrainian officials in particular have warned that Putin is planning to announce a mass mobilisation, or even to declare war against Ukraine, calling up personnel and resources that were untapped under Russia’s so-called “special operation” that began on 24 February.“Russia has already moved to covert mobilisation and is preparing to announce open mobilisation in the near future,” said Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukraine’s military intelligence, in an interview this week with the Ukrainian news outlet New Times. “I’m quite curious: how will they explain this to their own people?” Andrew Roth THE OBSERVER for THE GUARDIAN Since the beginning of the millennium, when Vladimir Putin took power in Russia, authoritarian leaders have come to dominate global politics. Self-styled strongmen have risen to power in Moscow, Beijing, Delhi, Brasilia, Budapest, Ankara, Riyadh and Washington. …; Added by Michael Grove at 9:36 on May 8, 2022

Comment on: Blog Post 'SUMMARY OF THE UKRAINE SITUATION TODAY': sian people. Having already led Russia for 24 years, he is poised to prolong his grip on power for a further six years, after a three-day election in which the voters effectively have only one choice. Talk of “Putin’s popularity” in the West is worse than meaningless: it gives legitimacy to a cynical charade that makes a mockery of democracy. The constitution, which permits only two consecutive presidential terms, has already been amended to allow Putin to remain in power until 2036. By then, he would be 83 and would have surpassed Catherine the Great, who reigned for 34 years (1762-1796) as Russia’s longest-serving head of state. Already, the Putin era has coincided with five US presidents and seven UK prime ministers. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/03/17/putins-transformation-into-stalin-complete-russian-election/…; Added by Michael Grove at 10:41 on March 17, 2024

Comment on: Blog Post 'REMEMBERING DRESDEN': sian people. Having already led Russia for 24 years, he is poised to prolong his grip on power for a further six years, after a three-day election in which the voters effectively have only one choice. Talk of “Putin’s popularity” in the West is worse than meaningless: it gives legitimacy to a cynical charade that makes a mockery of democracy. The constitution, which permits only two consecutive presidential terms, has already been amended to allow Putin to remain in power until 2036. By then, he would be 83 and would have surpassed Catherine the Great, who reigned for 34 years (1762-1796) as Russia’s longest-serving head of state. Already, the Putin era has coincided with five US presidents and seven UK prime ministers. Daniel Johnson - The Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/03/17/putins-transformation-into-stalin-complete-russian-election/…; Added by Michael Grove at 10:46 on March 17, 2024

Comment on: Blog Post 'IS VLADIMIR PUTIN MAD, BRILLIANT OR ...': were shadows, while Putin’s true opponents were imprisoned, exiled or dead. According to this narrative, the 87% who voted for him were mere victims of coercion, the queues of silent protesters were the stars. Putin’s vote had nothing to do with democracy. It was a rerun of his 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, a global dressing-up, a rallying of support. As he celebrated his win to an adoring crowd in Red Square on Monday, we saw Putin as the new Ivan the Terrible against a backdrop of Ivan’s St Basil’s cathedral. He even made an offhand quip about his murdered rival Navalny. The image was of absolute power smilingly defying the enemy. Two years ago, he was supposedly crippled by western sanctions. We don’t hear that now. Simon Jenkins • The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/mar/22/putin-dictator-tyrant-criticism-regime…; Added by Michael Grove at 11:23 on March 23, 2024

Comment on: Blog Post 'SUMMARY OF THE UKRAINE SITUATION TODAY': him another six years in power. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russian-president-vladimir-putin-interview-2024-03-13/…; Added by Michael Grove at 11:33 on March 13, 2024

Comment on: Blog Post 'IS VLADIMIR PUTIN MAD, BRILLIANT OR ...': din, publicly stated they would vote for him. According to Vote Abroad, Davankov gained the majority of votes at Russian polling stations in other countries. With such a “subversive” candidate on the ballot sheet, nothing other than absolute victory would have allowed Putin to sleep at night. It was clear for some time that the Kremlin saw this election as a test of the regime’s legitimacy. It is reported to have spent close to €1bn on the election campaign, with funds overwhelmingly devoted to ensuring a large turnout. It was not enough for the Kremlin to win the election – it also had to demonstrate public engagement. There was a push for early voting, especially in the occupied territories in Ukraine, where electoral officials accompanied by armed men in uniform knocked on people’s doors and politely asked them if they would like to vote early. Those who did not yet have Russian passports were allowed to use their Ukrainian IDs. In Russia there were the usual raffles, discos and canteens at polling stations to entice people out. Samantha de Bendern • The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/mar/18/vladimir-putin-russian-society-kremlin-election-war…; Added by Michael Grove at 10:43 on March 23, 2024

Comment on: Blog Post 'SUMMARY OF THE UKRAINE SITUATION TODAY': stigating direct conflict with Russia. In his desperation to achieve some semblance of a victory in Ukraine, Vladimir Putin has demonstrated that he is perfectly willing to employ far from conventional military force to achieve his aims. The Russian president began the conflict by threatening to cut off Europe’s energy supply if it continued providing military support to Ukraine; a form of blackmail he has subsequently applied against Finland following Helsinki’s decision this week to apply for Nato membership. …; Added by Michael Grove at 14:09 on May 26, 2022

Comment on: Blog Post 'SUMMARY OF THE UKRAINE SITUATION TODAY': gth to his henchmen who think he’s not been tough enough in Ukraine and to warn the plotters in Moscow that he will stop at nothing to hold onto power, no matter how many must die in the process. His intended annexation of the areas of Ukraine now occupied by Russia means he could lawfully use nuclear weapons to defend them as they will formally be part of the Russian Federation. The fact that no other country will recognise Moscow’s sovereignty is beside the point – seen from the Kremlin, an attack on these areas with Nato munitions will be an attack on Russia itself. …; Added by Michael Grove at 15:29 on September 29, 2022

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