Putin is now drinking in the "Last Chance" saloon.

Notwithstanding the many rumours circulating around the internet regarding the health, or otherwise, of Putin; what is certain is that the ramping up by the West of supplying the Ukrainian army with sophisticated weaponry to defend itself against Putin's impending onslaught against Ukraine has ruffled many feathers in the Kremlin and the Russian Duma.

As reported by Joe Gould (left),

"Weeks before the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Western officials agreed to send a flurry of offensive armored vehicles to Ukraine’s battlefields that they previously refused to deliver for fear of provoking Russia — heralding a new phase of international support for Kyiv." (Yahoo News (Air Force Times) : 18 January 2023) (my emphasis)

 This 'new phase' of international support for Kiev is best exemplified by, as reported by the Kyiv Independent,

"Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said in a CNN interview he would consider providing military aid, including Israel's Iron Dome air defense system, to Ukraine.

“Well, I’m certainly looking into it,” Netanyahu said when asked about the possibility of Israel sending the Iron Dome to Ukraine." (Kyiv Independent : 1 February 2023) (my emphasis)

Hindustan Times : 1 February 2023 : YouTube

And whilst Netanyahu is "considering" providing Ukraine with Israel's Iron Dome air defence system, AP News reports that,

"Ukraine’s defense minister said Wednesday that Ukrainian lives will be saved by a sophisticated air-defense radar that France is supplying and which is powerful enough to spot incoming missiles and exploding drones in the skies over all of Ukraine’s capital and its surrounding region.

The minister, Oleksii Reznikov, was so enthusiastic about what he called Ukraine’s new “electronic eyes” that he quickly coined a nickname for the Ground Master 200 radar — the “Grand Master.” " (AP News : 1 February 2023) (my emphasis)

More significantly, as reported by Leila Abboud, Henry Foy, and Ben Hall,

"France has signalled openness to sending fighter jets to Ukraine as western countries weigh the next steps in military assistance to help Kyiv resist Russian attacks.

“By definition, nothing is excluded,” President Emmanuel Macron said at a press conference in The Hague on Monday, adding that he had not received a request for jets from Ukraine. (Financial Times : 31 January 2023) (my emphasis)

And as reported by Dominic Nicholls (left),

"Washington is preparing to send missiles to Ukraine which could strike almost the entire Russian-occupied region of the country, US officials have said.

Two officials said the weapons announcement would be made this week in a new $2 billion package of military aid, according to Reuters.

It would be the first time Ground Launched Small Diameter Bombs (GLSDB), a new weapon designed by Boeing, were sent. (The Telegraph : 1 February 2023) (my emphasis)

Is it therefore any wonder that, as reported by Caitlin McFall (right) that,

"Russia on Wednesday took aim at Israel and warned it not to get involved in the war in Ukraine by providing arms to Kyiv, claiming such a move would "lead to an escalation of this crisis."

"We say that all countries that supply weapons should understand that we will consider these to be legitimate targets for Russia’s armed forces," Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova (below left) said according to a report by The Times of Israel.

"Any attempts — implemented or even unrealized but announced for the supply of additional, new or some other weapons — lead and will lead to an escalation of this crisis," she added. "And everyone should be aware of this." " (Fox News : 1 February 2023) (my emphasis)
 
What is rather interesting about this "threat of global war" from Maria
Zakharova is that it has not publicly emanated either from Putin nor from his dyed-in-the-wool Soviet foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov.

Besides having to contend with the accelerated inflow of advanced weaponry into Ukraine, Putin now also have to contend with the fact, as reported by Alarabiya News, that,

"Officials from ex-Soviet states in central Asia and the Caucasus say the war has prompted their governments to look for ways to reduce dependence on Moscow by turning to rival powers including Turkey, the European Union and Middle East countries. All spoke on condition of anonymity to avoid antagonizing the Kremlin.

Current and former Russian officials, also speaking on condition they not be identified, said Moscow is reacting nervously, even harshly, as the Kremlin becomes less certain of its ability to assert influence in its own backyard." (Alarabiya News : 1 February 2023) (my emphasis)  

And as reported by Georgia Digital News,

"Armenia has refused to host Russia’s military for routine exercises. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan harshly criticized Russian peacekeepers’ failure in the region. As a response, Moscow pushes Armenia to clarify its position." (Georgia Digital News : 22 January 2023) (my emphasis)
 

Georgia Digital News : 22 January 2023

As he prepares to launch approximately 500,000 more Russian soldiers into his war with Ukraine, Putin's desperation to achieve some success against Ukraine to mark its one-year anniversary seems to primarily be focused on presenting the Russian people with a sense of success rather than failure.

 As reported by Y Rabinovitz,

"Last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said that Russian forces were trying to make gains in order to showcase their progress by the war's Israel Nation Newsfirst anniversary, adding that the situation in the Donetsk province was dire.

“A definite increase has been noted in the offensive operations of the occupiers on the front in the east of our country. The situation has become tougher,” Zelenskiy said in a video address." (7 Israel National News: 2 February 2023) (my emphasis)

Putin is now drinking in the "Last Chance" saloon.

STOP PRESS!!

Alessandra Scotto di Santolo (left) has reported that,

"Kazakhstan, one of Russia's closest allies, will close its trade representation in Russia, the Prime Minister has declared. 

Announcing the news, the country's Ministry of Trade said the offices will be closed down by order of Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov." (Expess : 1 February 2023) (my emphasis)

She goes on to further report that,

"In November, Putin travelled to Armenia for a summit of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO).
  .....
At the end of the summit, Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan clashed with the Russian leader over Putin's reluctance to come to his aid in a conflict against Azerbaijan." (ibid  Alessandra Scotto di Santolo)

And just yesterday, as reported by Tim Hanlon (right), 

"Russia is planning something major to “gain the world’s attention” on the first anniversary of the war with Ukraine, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.
...
It appears as though Putin's plan is to overshadow events in the West to show support for Ukraine a year into the war, with Lavrov saying Russia "will do everything" to grab the attention.
...
At the same time Russia has made veiled nuclear threats to the West over the way it has been providing military armaments for Ukraine." (Mirror : 3 February 2023) (my emphasis)

And as reported by NDTV,

"President Vladimir Putin on Thursday vowed a decisive response to any country threatening Russia and lashed out against Germany for promising tanks for Kyiv.

His threats came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that the Kremlin was consolidating its forces for a fresh offensive.
...
"We have something to respond with," he added. "A modern war with Russia will be completely different." (NDTV : 3 February 2023) (my emphasis)

Tim McNulty also reports that,

"During a visit to Volgograd to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory in the battle of Stalingrad, two of Putin's security guards were seen carrying black cases. It is said that one of the black cases carried by Putin's security guards serves as a foldable shield to protect him in case of an attack, while the other is thought to hold the button for launching Russia's nuclear weapons." (Express : 2 February 2023) (my emphasis)

As also reported by BBC News,

"Vladimir Putin has compared Russia's invasion of Ukraine to the fight against Nazi Germany, in a speech to mark the 80th anniversary of the conclusion of the Battle of Stalingrad.
...
"Those who hope to defeat Russia on the battlefield do not understand, it seems, that a modern war with Russia will be very different for them," the 70-year-old leader said. "We are not sending our tanks to their borders, but we have the means to respond. It won't be limited to the use of armoured hardware. Everyone must understand this." (BBC News : 3 February 2023) (my emphasis)

BBC News : 3 February 2023

 

(to be continued)