Putin Has Signed Russia’s Death Warrant Thanks To The Ukraine War
DÜNYA
30-09-2022 21:53
Putin Has Signed Russia’s Death Warrant Thanks To The Ukraine War
The Ukraine War Has Putin Making Some Bad Decisions: Don’t bother reading Russian President Putin’s speech announcing the Russian Federation’s annexation of four Ukrainian provinces occupied by Russian troops. It’s the same old mishmash of bad history, lunatic ravings, fascist Russian rhetoric, and wishful thinking that Russia’s dictator has been mouthing for years.
There’s no point in pointing out—again—the obvious: that the whole procedure, like Putin’s regime, is a violation of international law and common decency.
If you thought Putin would someday abandon his never-never land and return to reality, this speech would do nothing to encourage your delusions.
The speech is important for what it portends. That’s quite a lot, and none of it is good for Putin or his Russia.
First, Putin has effectively made any negotiations with Ukraine impossible. Since the occupied territories are now “part” of Russia and will, according to him, remain so forever, any chance of a compromise involving territorial concessions has turned to zero. The only thing to talk about is capitulation—either Ukraine’s or, what is far more likely, Russia’s.
There’s no point in pointing out—again—the obvious: that the whole procedure, like Putin’s regime, is a violation of international law and common decency.
If you thought Putin would someday abandon his never-never land and return to reality, this speech would do nothing to encourage your delusions.
The speech is important for what it portends. That’s quite a lot, and none of it is good for Putin or his Russia.
First, Putin has effectively made any negotiations with Ukraine impossible. Since the occupied territories are now “part” of Russia and will, according to him, remain so forever, any chance of a compromise involving territorial concessions has turned to zero. The only thing to talk about is capitulation—either Ukraine’s or, what is far more likely, Russia’s.
Second, the annexation will only enhance the Russian population’s disillusionment with and sense of betrayal by Putin. Naturally, he’s hoping for the opposite effect—that Russians will now rally around the flag and lay down their lives for devastated territories with hostile populations and next to no emotional meaning for them. Crimea’s annexation resonated positively with many Russians. Their enthusiasm for the Donetsk and Luhansk entities was markedly cooler. Their desire to ingather Kherson and Zaporizhzhya provinces at the cost of their lives will be smaller still.
In effect, Putin has confronted Russians with the following choice: die for meaningless lands or oppose me and risk being arrested. Some Russians will follow their political culture’s infatuation with death and opt for the first option; most, such as the 300,000 Russians who have already fled their country in the last week to avoid being mobilized testify, will not. Needless to say, with this level of military elan, the war will not go well for Putin.
