Inside the mind of Putin: Why has he invaded Ukraine and what does he want?

[Boats]

Inside the mind of Putin: Why has he invaded Ukraine and what does he want?
By: Diana Magnay - Moscow Correspondent - Sky News - 02-25-22
Re: https://news.sky.com/story/inside-th...-want-12550167

Note: This artical comes from Russian Press and/or Media:

Firstly, this beggars - belief whilst being all too depressingly - predictable.

Vladimir Putin has invaded a sovereign nation, his infinitely smaller next-door neighbour to the West that poses no threat to Russia, in the name of protecting Russia and the Russian people. (Note: this is a WWII mind set of the past - not the present!)

He says he wants to protect those who have been subjected to "bullying and genocide by the Kyiv regime". He says he intends to demilitarise and "de-nazify" Ukraine, but not occupy it.

This is the language of a man whose view both on the past and on present reality is utterly warped. There is no genocide being perpetrated in eastern Ukraine, to whose occupants he has handed out passports so he can now call them his people. It is not a country awash with the far right; there are neo-Nazi elements but so there are in many other European countries, including Russia. This is not Nazi Germany - it is a free, sovereign, independent state with a progressive, democratically minded people.

And yet Putin's mind consistently harks back to the Second World War. In his 28-minute speech announcing a "special military action" against Ukraine, he said that attempts to appease the aggressor in 1941 were a mistake, which Russia would not repeat. He said that the Soviet Union "kept trying not to provoke the potential aggressor until the very last moment" and that Russia had "no right" to do the same again.

Make no mistake, Russia is the aggressor here. Ukraine poses no threat to Russia. And whatever picture Putin's propagandists try to paint, they will have a hard task convincing the entire Russian public that this appalling attack on their neighbour is remotely justified, particularly if he pushes beyond the borders of Donetsk and Luhansk regions which seems to be where the bulk of the fighting is concentrated now.

What is Putin thinking? (Again this is Russian propoganda news):

Why now? A multitude of factors. Let's look at the emotional factor first, because via two speeches and a televised security council meeting where he behaved like a Soviet politburo head, we have recently had deeply unpleasant glimpses into that million dollar, over-posed question: What is Vladimir Putin thinking?

He has had COVID isolation to stew on decades of perceived resentments over supposed NATO aggression and the lack of what he considers due respect that Russia receives on the world stage. He is 69 and has burrowed into the history books to develop for himself a deeply twisted view of Ukraine and Russia's past which he first revealed in his essay on Russian and Ukrainian historical unity last summer. And, as evidenced by his public humiliation of Russia's foreign intelligence chief at Monday's security council meeting, he appears to be forming and taking his decisions increasingly alone.

The gift of a strategic advantage:

Then there are the strategic questions. Belarus essentially fell into his lap, after the Belarusian leader sought assistance from Russia to restore order after huge street protests in August 2020. Putin suddenly had a military staging post from which to launch an attack, just to the north of Ukraine's largest cities, Kyiv and Kharkiv.

Then there were domestic Ukrainian issues that seem to have riled. Viktor Medvedchuk is a Ukrainian politician and businessman and a great pal of Putin. He is reportedly godfather to Putin's daughter and was the president's main eyes, ears and influence in Ukraine until he was charged with treason and placed under house arrest. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy targeted his pro-Russian TV stations and ramped up his efforts more broadly to counter Kremlin influence domestically. He also began a renewed push for NATO membership. Those were red rags to the Russian leader.

A weakened Ukrainian leader

He was also aware that Ukraine's young democracy was not the most politically or economically stable, and that President Zelenskyy's popularity was on the wane, especially given the fact that he had not been able to resolve the war issue as he'd promised on the campaign trail. Putin could paint the country as a basket case and as an example of the flaws of liberal democracy.

Of course, we can never know all that goes through one man's mind and a former KGB man does not give away his secrets.

But Vladimir Putin has chosen his moment in history and it is now. He must hope it will upend Western hegemony. He must believe it will serve his historical legacy. He may be proven wrong, but he might not be. That's what he's gambling on.

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Personal note: This is Russian propoganda - Ukraine is not at all what Putin declares.
His mental state reflects his past during WWII not the present. He's bitter and shows
signs of insecurity and wants to show that he can do anything he wants regardless of
the impact. He's showing the world including his allias China and North Korea that he
has a handle on the situation. But does he really!
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In short he's insecure in his thoughts and wants NATO to remove themselves from
his border countries. Putin is all drama and misconception - and will not letsleeping
dogs lie. He's challenging the border countries to fall in line - or fall behind.
Which will lead to his downfall and replacement by other Russian's who currently find
great disgust with his current demenor and foolish border attacks on their neighbors.
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Grief will turn to hatred and Russia has not seen the best yet to come from his
so-called enemies. His leadership is faultering even within the ranks of the Soviet
Guard. His neighbors are family members of many in Russian's to which they will
suffer greatly from Putin hardline miltary attacks. I doubt they have the stomach
to kill their own family members during these events.
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These countries even without NATO they will battle Russia until the very end. Putin
will loose any and all respect from the upper levels. He's a Kim in Russian cloths and
China is watching in the background to see how this plays out. This will cost Putin
much to his demise - for these ongoing issues - with his border countries.
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He's out of date and using old mannerisms. Which no long apply today - but he's
bound and determined to keep NATO from his doorstop. This attack will only
weaken his resolve - and he hasn't yet put that together. But he's signed his
own death warrant for future business with these border countries as they
can no longer trust him - and/or his operations.
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I'd say Putin may not get reelected. Infact I'd be surprise if some in his
command hasn't kcnocked him off yet? Russia has much to offer the world
and he's put a real damper on any future trade and/or enterprises.
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Many of the People in Russia are good people - only led by threats and
demands.
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They must by now know by now that this is not the way it should be.
Coloboration is the only means of advancement and security. Tyrants
are the old school heavy handed personnel - who of late have very short
life cycles.
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The People today need a Leader - not a tyrant. Neighbors work together
not fighting one another. A lesson a few other countries need to learn
as well.
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Until they learn this - war's will prevail - and losses will stack up like
mountain tops. Hope will be lost - and only death as the end result.
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Personal note: Many of us have been in wars or deadly conflicts.
You win some and you loose some but you learn from these issues.
Russia - North Korea & China haven't yet put these issues together
to show worldly promise. I will say of late: That China has made
great strives towards compromise and promise. This will go a long
way to commercial sucess and trade.
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Boats