Is it Putin or Pu-trushev?

As the war between Israel and Hamas continues to dominate the international headlines, Putin has been forced to choose between support for Hamas and support for Israel.

Timothy Snyder explains that,

"There is good reason ... to believe that Russia is rejoicing in [the war between Israel and Hamas].... Russia is glad to see Israel suffer ... is glad to see the US put in a difficult position as he [Putin] sees it ..." (MSNBC : 3 November 2023) (my emphasis)

MSNBC : 3 November 2023

As also reported by Holly Ellyatt (left),

"Russia has always enjoyed constructive relations with Israel, with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israel’s Premier Benjamin Netanyahu enjoying a close relationship and vowing to deepen Israeli-Russian ties.

In recent years, however, Russia has become extremely close with Israel’s arch-enemy Iran and has become even more reliant on Tehran since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, relying on the country (among other rogue states) for weapons, predominantly drones, for use in the war. (CNBC : 8 November 2023) (my emphasis)

Hindustan Times : 27 October 2023 : YouTube

Holly Ellyat goes on to report that,

“When it comes down to it, if you think of who Russia really needs, it needs Iran, not least as a continued source of military material, but it also needs Saudi [Arabia] because the two of them together can to a large extent dominate oil pricing globally. In that context, it’s having to sacrifice Israel.” (ibid Holly Ellyatt)

On the oil front, however, Stephanie Stacey and Ian Johnston (left) report that,

"Oil prices tumbled to the lowest in more than three months on Tuesday, reversing all gains made since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, with hedge funds betting that the conflict will not draw in oil-rich neighbouring countries.
...
“Many [traders] got burnt” last year after overestimating the scale of disruption to oil supplies following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, said Croft. “[So] they want to see that risk really materialise before they start pricing that in . . . I think there are still significant risks, but market participants have decided to move on.” (Financial Times : 7 November 2023) (my emphasis)

Putin must be fuming at this fall in the international price of oil, which simply adds to his economic woes as the Russian economy continues to implode under the weight of the cost of Putin's war with Ukraine.

Adding to Putin's woes in his war with Ukraine, Sakura Murakami and John Geddie report that,

"G7 support for Ukraine in its war with Russia will not be affected by the intensifying Middle East conflict, Japan said on Tuesday as the group's foreign ministers prepared to hold virtual talks with Kyiv during a meeting in Tokyo.
...

"Our commitment to continue strict sanctions against Russia and strong support for Ukraine has not wavered at all, even as the situation in the Middle East intensifies," Japan's foreign minister Yoko Kamikawa (left) told a press conference." (Reuters : 8 November 2023) (my emphasis)

Furthermore, as reported by Tim McNulty  (right),

"Moment 'Putin's newest warship is destroyed by Ukrainian missile strike at Crimean shipyard'
..
Dramatic new footage suggests Vladimir Putin has lost another warship - this time one of his most modern - in yet another missile strike by Ukrainian forces this past weekend.

Huge explosions struck the Askold - a Karakurt or 'Black Widow' class corvette - in the Zaliv shipyard in annexed Crimea on Saturday night. (Mail Online : 7 November 2023) (my emhasis)

As also reported by Gabriela Baczynska and Tom Balmforth,

"The European Union executive will recommend on Wednesday that the bloc open membership negotiations with Kyiv once it meets outstanding conditions, two EU officials said on Monday, more than 20 months since Russia invaded Ukraine.
...
"The consensus is clear," said a senior French diplomat, adding that support for Ukraine remained "very solid" in the EU and the bloc could not afford to lose out against Russia." (Reuters : 6 November 2023) (my emphasis)

Euronews : 2 November 2023

Pacing angrily around in his bunker, Putin simply cannot understand 'Why?'  support for Ukraine in its war with him simply cannot be eclipsed by what is currently happening in the Middle East.

What Putin simply cannot understand is how,

• the G7 is underscoring their commitment to continue strict sanctions against Russia and strong support for Ukraine, which has not wavered at all, even as the situation in the Middle East intensifies (cf : Sakura Murakami and John Geddie) , and that
  
• support for Ukraine remained "very solid" in the EU and the bloc could not afford to lose out against Russia." (cf : Gabriela Baczynska and Tom Balmforth)

Is it because it is really not Putin supporting Hamas, or continuing with his war against Ukraine, but rather  Pu-trushev i.e. the doppelganger image of Putin with the voice of Nikolai Patrushev (left)?

 

                      

 

(to be continued)