.
Threat Analyst Ken Abramowitz is author of “The Multifront War”
Editor: Dr. Rachel Ehrenfeld, President, American Center for Democracy (ACD)
See the sources for this article and more research in the Additional Reading section
Quote of the Week:
Suggestions to Putin: End the War and Seek Medical Treatment – Ken’s Thought of the Week
As Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine enters its 5th month, the end is nowhere in sight. Evidently, the Russian soldiers were ill-prepared to fight a war. But Putin seems oblivious to the Russian casualties. The estimated 25,000 – 50,000 deaths on each side, tens of thousands of civilian lives that have been lost, and 10 million that have been displaced, do not affect Putin. Instead, he seems determined to level Ukraine’s cities, towns, and the infrastructure and has already caused an estimated $1 trillion in damages
And although the Russian soldiers were unprepared psychologically and physically to fight a war, let alone an extended battle, the end is nowhere in sight. Russian President Vladimir Putin intends to keep fighting to solidify his control over at least 20% of the territory in Eastern Ukraine and then fight for the southern port of Odessa, Western Ukraine, and possibly neighboring Moldova. He is said to hunger for the Baltic states, Romania, and Poland.
Putin has publicly likened himself to the Russian empire builder Emperor Peter the Great (1672-1725), who extended the Russian empire westward and fought a 21-year war with Sweden. Today, Russia is the largest country in the world, controlling over ten percent of the world’s land.
But Putin has declared his wish to recapture the former Soviet Republics, in order to shield the motherland from NATO encirclement and potential invasion. He uses this threat, even though NATO is underfunded and has no intention or capability to invade Russia. But Putin’s massive media disinformation campaign apparently convinced the Russian public that if Ukraine joins NATO, they will threaten Russia. Thus, reportedly, the Russian people seem to support their Czar Putin.
Although Putin hadweak and repeatedly voiced his intention to rebuild the Soviet Empire, Russia observers say he decided to launch this war one or two years ago, when he became ill. Perhaps. However, it is more likely that Putin decision was made because he did not worry about the reaction of the weak and ineffective Biden administration.
Thus,
Putin intends to keep fighting to solidify his control over the territory he already occupies in Eastern Ukraine, and if not stopped, continue the war to take over the rest of the country. Unless Putin is defeated, he will extend the war to neighboring Moldova, and the Baltic states, to rebuild the former Soviet Empire.
Putin falsely claimed he had to take over Ukraine and recapture the former Soviet Republics, to shield the motherland from NATO encirclement and potential invasion. However, speaking at the Hudson Institute, former State Secretary Mike Pompeo stated last month Putin knew NATO, which is still underfunded, had no intention or capability to invade Russia at that time. Using his vast media disinformation apparatus, Putin apparently convinced the Russian public that the motherland will be threatened by Ukraine’s joining NATO.
Putin he is clearly not afraid of the US, which is being badly mismanaged by the incompetent and confused President Joe Biden, whose Defense Secretary is set on erroding the U.S. military’s capabilities. Similarly, Putin does not fear the toothless EU. He believes no one can stop him. He also seems to assume that the West will tire of arming and funding Ukraine. He and possibly his successor will think Russia can out-wait everyone else. Meanwhile, oil, natural gas, and wheat prices are getting higher, helping finance his war.
Putin intends to keep fighting to solidify his control over the territory he already occupies in Eastern Ukraine, and if not stopped, continue the war to take over the rest of the country. Unless Putin is defeated, he will extend the war to neighboring Moldova, and the Baltic states, to rebuild the former Soviet Empire.
Putin falsely claimed he had to take over Ukraine and recapture the former Soviet Republics, to shield the motherland from NATO encirclement and potential invasion. However, speaking at the Hudson Institute, former State Secretary Mike Pompeo stated last month Putin knew NATO, which is still underfunded, had no intention or capability to invade Russia at that time. Using his vast media disinformation apparatus, Putin apparently convinced the Russian public that the motherland will be threatened by Ukraine’s joining NATO.
Putin he is clearly not afraid of the US, which is being badly mismanaged by the incompetent and confused President Joe Biden, whose Defense Secretary is set on erroding the U.S. military’s capabilities. Similarly, Putin does not fear the toothless EU. He believes no one can stop him. He also seems to assume that the West will tire of arming and funding Ukraine. He and possibly his successor will think Russia can out-wait everyone else. Meanwhile, oil, natural gas, and wheat prices are getting higher, helping finance his war.
In contrast to Russia, China has decided to adopt, more accurately, steal foreign technology to its economy. China targets 4-5% economic growth well into the future, while Russia has had no economic growth during the past ten years and is unlikely to have any economic growth for the next ten years. It’s already facing a recession. How long can a country survive when it manages itself in total disregard of its people and the soldiers who protect them? Not long.
So here are our friendly suggestions for President Putin:
1) Negotiate a permanent ceasefire with Ukraine, return the territories you’ve captured and settle on reparation for the damages to the lives and property of the Ukrainian people. Instead of spending untold fortunes on fighting Ukraine, develop the Black Sea’s coastal facilities that remained under Russian control after the Soviet Union demise, which you’ve neglected, into functioning ports. Both countries will promise no guerilla warfare against each other
2) If indeed, the reports of your failing health are accurate, your expert physicians should share diagnosis with the best specialists in the world, and consult with them on the therapeutic options available, including some of the numerous experimental drugs currently in clinical trials in the U.S. and Europe. The US government and the EU would guarantee access to such drugs as needed.
3) Instead of escalating the war by using Russia’s latest sophisticated submarine and supersonic missiles, you should take our suggestions to heart and stop the escalation of his war against Ukraine before it leads into a nuclear war. You should refocus on growing Russia’s economy with the help of your talented people. And most of all, end the war, so Russia could once again, join the family of the international community.
Additional Reading
Putin and Peter the Great: Russian leader likens himself to 18th Century tsar – BBC News
Putin wants to build a new Soviet Union and he won’t stop with Ukraine | Fox News
Putin ‘Has No Fear’ of Biden, Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich Says
Russia-Ukraine latest updates: Putin warns of energy crisis | Russia-Ukraine war News | Al Jazeera
.
.
.