Putin gone (We wish)

[quackhandle]

Seems more likely than one of his inner circle getting close enough for an assassination.

I read that his most of his inner circle consists of his KGB mates from the 1970s who all think the same as him i.e. - reestablish the USSR.

Outside of that you have the Oligarchs who Mad Vlad has made very rich, so not much luck there. I doubt anyone else will have access to him to get that close.

qh

[SueEllen]

II doubt anyone else will have access to him to get that close.

Air hostesses.

Though they all clearly try not to look creeped out when he stands or sits up close to them.

[Paddy]

Putin the liar

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday said he will not send conscripts or reservists to fight in Ukraine and that "professional" soldiers fulfilling "fixed objectives" were leading the war.

"Conscripted soldiers are not participating and will not participate in the fighting. There will not be an additional conscription of reservists either," Putin said in a televised address marking International Women's Day on March 8.

https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2022/...ukraine-a76812

[NotAllThere]

Wow. If these guys are the professionals, it's good job they didn't send conscripts.

[DealorNoDeal]

I read that his most of his inner circle consists of his KGB mates from the 1970s who all think the same as him i.e. - reestablish the USSR [or Russia 2.0].

I suspect this is the real agenda. And making his mark before it's too late (assuming he is ill).

If former Soviet republics joining NATO was seen as such a threat, why didn't he do something about it years ago?

Why invade now?

[vetran]

Wow. If these guys are the professionals, it's good job they didn't send conscripts.

Sadly they are still some mothers sons. Mainly innocent personally.

[AtW]

Why invade now?

He invated Ukraine in 2014 - 8 years ago, he would have taken whole country if it was not for volunteers and a handful of able military units to start fighting back and only ferocity of such fighting stopped him where he was back then, he decided to wait and prepare better for the next time, which is now.

[DealorNoDeal]

He invated Ukraine in 2014 - 8 years ago, he would have taken whole country if it was not for volunteers and a handful of able military units to start fighting back and only ferocity of such fighting stopped him where he was back then, he decided to wait and prepare better for the next time, which is now.

What do you reckon his real motivation is?

1. recreation of some form of Soviet Empire
2. won't accept Ukraine as independent country, unless it has a government which kowtows to Russia
3. genuine fear of further NATO expansion
4. ridding Ukraine of Nazi and drug addict leadership
5. narcissistic attention seeking

[SueEllen]

He invated Ukraine in 2014 - 8 years ago, he would have taken whole country if it was not for volunteers and a handful of able military units to start fighting back and only ferocity of such fighting stopped him where he was back then, he decided to wait and prepare better for the next time, which is now.

This is better prepared

Including sending your army into the mud? Wasn't that a WWI mistake?

[SueEllen]

What do you reckon his real motivation is?

1. recreation of some form of Soviet Empire
2. won't accept Ukraine as independent country, unless it has a government which kowtows to Russia
3. genuine fear of further NATO expansion
4. ridding Ukraine of Nazi and drug addict leadership
5. narcissistic attention seeking

If he had a "fear" of NATO expansion he would have done something about Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania the first time he was in power.