Putin cannot remove the "economic millstone" around his neck, nor can he remove the "noose of impeachment" dandling above the head of Trump.

Agence France Press (AFP) reported that President Vladimir Putin, speaking at his annual press conference in Moscow on December 14, 2017, stated that,

"President Vladimir Putin said Russians “do not want and will not stand for” a Ukraine-style coup as he responded to a question from a rival presidential candidate at his annual press conference on Thursday.

...

“We don’t want a second edition of today’s Ukraine for Russia, do we?” asked Putin, referring to the pro-Western 2014 “Maidan” uprisings that culminated in the ouster of Ukraine’s pro-Russian president Viktor Yanukovych.
...
“We won’t let it happen.” (AFP : 14 December, 2017) (my emphasis)

This fear of Putin stems from the stagnating Russian economy that continues to impoverish the Russian people.

As reported by Slava Rabinovich (left),

"After 18 years of Putin's rule, Putin will again take Russia with 23 million people living below the poverty line and leave Russia after his death with 100 million people living below the poverty line.. 

[После 18 лет путинского правления Путин снова возьмет Россию с 23 миллионами человек, живущими за чертой бедности, и оставит Россию после своей смерти со 100 миллионами человек, живущими за чертой бедности.] (Gordonua : December 8, 2017) (my emphasis)

Added to which,

"The European Union has extended sanctions against Russia because of the stalled peace process in Ukraine.
...
EU Council President Donald Tusk (right) said at Thursday's summit of the 28 EU leaders that they were "united on the roll-over of economic sanctions on Russia." (Fox News (AP) : 15 December, 2017) (my emphasis)

Now recall that Tom Towers recently reported that at a military conference held in Sochi, Putin stated that,

“The ability of our economy to increase military production and services at a given time is one of the most important aspects of military security.
...
“To this end, all strategic, and simply large-scale enterprise should be ready, regardless of ownership.” (Daily Star : 23rd November 2017) (my emphasis)

With this in mind, it should come as no surprise that the Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, Oleksandr Turchynov (right), informed us that,
 
"Russia is building a strong military infrastructure along the border with Ukraine and may launch large-scale hostilities against our state at the order of Kremlin at any moment. 
...
Moreover, Putin's decision will not depend on Ukraine's actions. On the contrary, a much more important factor for launching Russia's foreign policy and military undertakings is the development of the domestic political situation in Russia," Mr. Turchynov said adding that the threat to the NATO member states is increasing rapidly as well." (UNIAN : Friday 15 December, 2017) (my emphasis)

And whilst Putin continues with his military build-up on the Ukrainian border controlled by his Russian soldiers and proxies, as well as converting Ukrainain Crimea into a Russian military and naval base (cf: Sergey Sukhankin),

"The United States, in fact, is a full-fledged participant in the [Donbas conflict] settlement process, regardless of whether it is part of the Normandy format or not," Putin said at his big annual press conference in Moscow on December 14, 2017. 

.....

"They are very deeply involved and aware of all the developments there," said the Russian president. (UNIAN : 15.12.2017) (my emphasis)

Whilst Putin has now co-opted Trump as a "full-fledged" participant in his settlement of his war with Ukraine, and praised him during his marathon annual press conference,  he cannot, however, stop the tide of anti-Trump feeling that is beginning to sweep across the US.

Alabama has always been a Republican stronghold, and the recent election of a Democratic Senator by the people of Alabama singifies that Trump is beginning to see the "noose of impeachment" dangling above his head.

 

Like Trump's "noose of impeachment", Putin's "millstone" of EU-US economic sanctions that continues to hang around his neck will not be removed no matter how much he continues to stroke Trump's ego.

Neither Putin nor Trump can disentangle themselves from the scarlet thread of Maidan that continues to bind them together even more tightly. 

(to be continued)