Putin ‘threatens action’ against ex-Soviet states if they defy Russia
Vladimir Putin has issued a thinly-veiled threat to former Soviet Union countries – warning they could share the same fate as Ukraine for defying Russia. The Russian President made clear he would not hesitate to take the same action against them should they turn against the Kremlin, and would no longer ‘be allies’ with the country. Mr Putin’s comments followed those of the president of Kazakhstan, who had described the pro-Russian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in the Donbas as ‘quasi-states territories’. As Kassym-Jomart Tokayev sat metres away from him at the St Petersburg Economic Forum, he claimed Kazakhstan – which left the USSR in 1991 – was part of ‘historic Russia’. ‘What is the Soviet Union? This is historic Russia,’ Mr Putin said, before praising Kazakhstan as a brotherly nation. ‘The same thing could have happened with Ukraine, absolutely, but they wouldn’t be our allies.’
So, same old Vlad the Mad, and not learning from the wise old tome 'How to Make Friends and Influence People', but preferring the stick always - and just so intelligent of course.
At the same conference in St Petersburg, Mr Putin said he anticipated Russia and Ukraine would restore relations after the ‘special military operation’ had concluded. ‘Sooner or later, the situation will return to normal,’ he added, during a Q&A session with Mr Tokayev.
He might like to bet on that. Except he probably won't be around long enough to see his mistakes, so it is a bit pointless to make a bet with him now.
Delusional Idiot of the Year, apart from Trump, that is?
Vladimir Putin has issued a thinly-veiled threat to former Soviet Union countries – warning they could share the same fate as Ukraine for defying Russia. The Russian President made clear he would not hesitate to take the same action against them should they turn against the Kremlin, and would no longer ‘be allies’ with the country. Mr Putin’s comments followed those of the president of Kazakhstan, who had described the pro-Russian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in the Donbas as ‘quasi-states territories’. As Kassym-Jomart Tokayev sat metres away from him at the St Petersburg Economic Forum, he claimed Kazakhstan – which left the USSR in 1991 – was part of ‘historic Russia’. ‘What is the Soviet Union? This is historic Russia,’ Mr Putin said, before praising Kazakhstan as a brotherly nation. ‘The same thing could have happened with Ukraine, absolutely, but they wouldn’t be our allies.’
So, same old Vlad the Mad, and not learning from the wise old tome 'How to Make Friends and Influence People', but preferring the stick always - and just so intelligent of course.
At the same conference in St Petersburg, Mr Putin said he anticipated Russia and Ukraine would restore relations after the ‘special military operation’ had concluded. ‘Sooner or later, the situation will return to normal,’ he added, during a Q&A session with Mr Tokayev.
He might like to bet on that. Except he probably won't be around long enough to see his mistakes, so it is a bit pointless to make a bet with him now.
Delusional Idiot of the Year, apart from Trump, that is?