It appears to me that the Biden administration is doing what it can to give Putin the exit option. Biden is executing well, IMHO. He and his team are showing how crucial it is to have knowledgeable, mature, and experienced leadership in times of crisis.
I read what Zelensky had to say. And I think he is right. He says Ukraine must be part of any negotiations. He is asking the West why they are waiting and calling for Europe and the US to put in sanctions now. He is asking why the West would wait until Ukraine is crushed before acting. I am asking why, too. I am also asking why Ukraine cannot be part of NATO.
Things on the ground are now moving very quickly. A good analysis for a few days ago, but the phony panic evacuation of civilians from Donbas has probably rendered it in error. Please, given the new circumstances, a fresh consideration?
Putin plays a chess game using Ukraine as his pawn. Nobody really knows how his mind works. I think that’s why the KGB liked him so much. He’s a devious soul and does not care about his own people as he continues to deceive them. He is a proud narcissist and what he wants to achieve is complete autocracy over neighboring countries. He also cannot stand the fact that Zelensky, a Jew, is the ruler of Ukraine. It eats at him terribly and I think that is something else we should be looking at. At this current time, Putin is agreeing to a “summit” with Biden, in France. Let’s hope he takes that exit you speak about.
Watching DW (German TV in english) online interview of Foreign policy expert at the Brookings Institution Dr. Constanze Stelzenmüller. I like her comment, "We're not in peace right now. We're in a sub-war state."
Starts at 3:45.
Foreign policy expert Constanze Stelzenmüller on Ukraine and the current geopolitical frontlines
I'm not sure Putin cares all that much about saving face inside Russia. I don't think he gives one whit as to what people in Russia are likely to think about whatever he may choose to do anywhere and at any time. They have no say in the matter. But he does fear humiliation in the international arena. He wants, after all, to be viewed as Biden/Macron/Johnson/Scholz's equal. He wants to be feared, which in his mind is tantamount to being respected. He expected the West to splinter further along the transatlantic lines and retreat in the face of his saber-rattling. He miscalculated badly. The last vestiges of his hypothetical reputation as a still minimally adequate and reliable political partner are gone. So yes, I do believe he's painted himself into a corner and doesn't quite know how to extricate himself.
It appears to me that the Biden administration is doing what it can to give Putin the exit option. Biden is executing well, IMHO. He and his team are showing how crucial it is to have knowledgeable, mature, and experienced leadership in times of crisis.
Putin has done a good job scaring the oil markets and pushing gas prices to record highs in the U.S.
I read what Zelensky had to say. And I think he is right. He says Ukraine must be part of any negotiations. He is asking the West why they are waiting and calling for Europe and the US to put in sanctions now. He is asking why the West would wait until Ukraine is crushed before acting. I am asking why, too. I am also asking why Ukraine cannot be part of NATO.
Things on the ground are now moving very quickly. A good analysis for a few days ago, but the phony panic evacuation of civilians from Donbas has probably rendered it in error. Please, given the new circumstances, a fresh consideration?
Putin plays a chess game using Ukraine as his pawn. Nobody really knows how his mind works. I think that’s why the KGB liked him so much. He’s a devious soul and does not care about his own people as he continues to deceive them. He is a proud narcissist and what he wants to achieve is complete autocracy over neighboring countries. He also cannot stand the fact that Zelensky, a Jew, is the ruler of Ukraine. It eats at him terribly and I think that is something else we should be looking at. At this current time, Putin is agreeing to a “summit” with Biden, in France. Let’s hope he takes that exit you speak about.
Watching DW (German TV in english) online interview of Foreign policy expert at the Brookings Institution Dr. Constanze Stelzenmüller. I like her comment, "We're not in peace right now. We're in a sub-war state."
Starts at 3:45.
Foreign policy expert Constanze Stelzenmüller on Ukraine and the current geopolitical frontlines
https://youtu.be/5shYVuYBe4M
I'm looking for news sources to get out of the American and British media echo chambers. If anyone has any recommendations I would love to hear them.
I'm not sure Putin cares all that much about saving face inside Russia. I don't think he gives one whit as to what people in Russia are likely to think about whatever he may choose to do anywhere and at any time. They have no say in the matter. But he does fear humiliation in the international arena. He wants, after all, to be viewed as Biden/Macron/Johnson/Scholz's equal. He wants to be feared, which in his mind is tantamount to being respected. He expected the West to splinter further along the transatlantic lines and retreat in the face of his saber-rattling. He miscalculated badly. The last vestiges of his hypothetical reputation as a still minimally adequate and reliable political partner are gone. So yes, I do believe he's painted himself into a corner and doesn't quite know how to extricate himself.