Putin's 'dream' of recreating the old USSR is ending.

In March of 2018, Andrew Osborn (left) reported that,

"Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday he would reverse the collapse of the Soviet Union if he had a chance to alter modern Russian history, news agencies reported." (Reuters : 2 March 2018) (my emphasis) (cf. also: NBC News (Associated Press article) : 25 April 2015) 

TRW World : 2022 : YouTube

Andrew Osborn went on to further report that,

"Fielding quick-fire questions from supporters in Russia’s European exclave of Kaliningrad, Putin was asked what Russian historical event he would like to change.

“The collapse of the Soviet Union,” Putin immediately shot back.

Putin, who served in the KGB in the Soviet era, called the 1991 Soviet fall the “greatest geopolitical catastrophe” of the twentieth century in a 2005 speech and has used the Soviet Union’s World War Two defeat of Nazi Germany to stir patriotism and help create a new sense of Russian identity." (ibid Andrew Osborn)

Fast forward to 2023, and Putin's 'dream' of reversing the collapse of the Soviet Union has now become his nightmare.

As I wrote in a previous blog entry (28 June 2023),

" Richard Ashmore also writes that,

"Vladimir Putin is “bitter and “disenchanted” like “Hitler and Saddam Hussein” in the final moments of their rule and could be on the brink of losing power, a defence expert claims. Echoing some of the worst dictators in history, the Russian despot will be “fuming” after the recent rebellion by Wagner mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin exposed his shaky grasp on rule." (Express : 27 June 2023) (my emphasis) "

We now learn that, as reported by  Henri Astier,

"Russian President Vladimir Putin met mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin after the failed Wagner group mutiny last month, the Kremlin says." (BBC News : 11 July 2023) (my emphasis)

Having publicly "fumed" about Yevgeny Prigozhin's rebellion, and then to publicly hold a meeting with the 'traitor' Yevgeny Prigozhin, must have stuck in Putin's craw!

Forbes Breaking News : 11 July 2023 : YouTube

Adding fuel to Putin's current nightmare about his failure to "reverse the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991", we now learn from Simon J Smith and Jordan Becker (left) that,

"In a surprise move, Turkey has ended its veto on Sweden joining Nato, thereby removing all the barriers to its membership of the military alliance.

Hungary quickly followed suit and, as a result of the two countries’ support, a consensus was able to be reached at the 2023 Nato summit in Vilnius, Lithuania. Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan agreeing to support Sweden’s bid to join will be touted as one of the key achievements of the summit." (The Conversation : 11 July 2023) (my emphasis)

Andrea Mitchell and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg: MSNBC  11 July 2023

And if Sweden now joining NATO was not enough to further dissolve Putin's 'dream' about re-creating the 'old' USSR, James Landale & Oliver Slow report that,

"G7 members are expected to ratify a wide-ranging security pact with Ukraine at the Nato summit on Wednesday.
...
US President Joe Biden earlier suggested a model for Ukraine similar to his country's agreement with Israel. Under that deal, Washington has committed to providing $3.8bn (£2.9bn) in military aid per year over a decade.
...
Diplomats also highlighted the creation of a new Nato-Ukraine Council, meeting on Wednesday for the first time, which will give Kyiv the right to summon meetings of the whole alliance. (BBC News : 12 July 2023) (my emphasis)

Hindustan Times : 8 July 2023 : YouTube

Furthermore, and rather unexpectedly, Adam Chapman (left) reports that,

"President Joe Biden has been shown up by his French counterpart as Emmanuel Macron officially gives the go-ahead to ship long-range missiles to Ukraine.

Despite pumping more than £30 billion into the war effort, the White House has so far refused to send Ukraine its Army Tactical Missile Systems over fears it will spark World War 3.
...
Macron said Paris would provide the SCALP surface-to-air missile system to strike targets further inside Russian-occupied territory." (Express : 11 July 2023) (my emphasis)

Express : 11 July 2023

Politically and militarily, Putin now has no chance of fulfilling his dream of recreating the old USSR. 

 

(to be continued)