Ukraine Crisis and Putin: For how long can Putin (?) fool ALL of the people of Russia?

"In the 1930s, the Kingdom of Hungary relied on increased trade with Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany to pull itself out of the Great Depression. Hungarian politics and foreign policy had become more stridently nationalistic by 1938, and Hungary adopted an irredentist policy similar to Germany's, attempting to incorporate ethnic Hungarian areas in neighboring countries into Hungary. Hungary benefited territorially from its relationship with the Axis.(right: Hungarian leader Miklós Horthy and German leader Adolf Hitler in 1938) " (Wikipedia)

Fast forward to 2024 and we have the current Hungarian leader, Victor Orban, following in the footsteps of his predesessor Miklós Horthy, and advocating the recovery of territory culturally or historically related to Hungary's nation but now an integral part of Ukraine.

And to this end, as reported by Lisa O'Carroll (left),

"EU leaders have returned to Brussels for a second showdown in two months with Hungary’s Viktor Orbán over his refusal to sanction a new €50bn assistance package for Ukraine." (The Guardian : 1 Februaary 2024) (my emphasis)

Guardian News : January 2024 : YouTube

Underpinning Victor Orban's recalcitrant attitude towards the €50bn assistance package for Ukraine, and his unwavering support for Putin, is the fact that,

"Hungary's far-right Our Homeland party would lay claim to a western region of Ukraine that is home to about 150,000 ethnic Hungarians if Ukraine loses its statehood due to Russia's invasion, the party's leader said late on Saturday.", as reported by Boldizsar Gyori and Gergely Szakacs. (Reuters : 28 January 2024) (my emphasis)

And whilst Putin [Pu-truschev] may be gleefully 'egging on' Orban to throw another spanner in the works of the EU's assistance package for Ukraine, Lili Bayer has just reported a mere two hours ago that,

"Charles Michel (left), the European Council president, has announced that a deal has been reached on 50 billion euros (€50bn) for Ukraine.

“All 27 leaders agreed,” he said, adding that “this locks in steadfast, long-term, predictable funding for Ukraine.”

The agreement comes after the bloc’s most influential politicians sat down with Hungary’s Viktor Orbán this morning.

Orbán had vetoed an agreement during a summit in December, and efforts have been ongoing to bring him onboard.

Michel’s announcement indicates leaders succeeded in convincing the Hungarian leader." (The Guardian : 1 February 2024) (my emphasis)

As also reported by Lisa O'Carroll,

"Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the Ukrainian president, said the decision [of the €50bn assistance package for Ukraine]“once again proves strong EU unity”. The four-year package is designed to keep Ukraine’s economy afloat, with cash for hospitals, schools and civil servants wages and pensions.

“Continued EU financial support for Ukraine will strengthen long-term economic and financial stability, which is no less important than military assistance and sanctions pressure on Russia,” he said." (The Guardian : 1 February 2024) (my emphasis)

Ironically, this critical decision of the EU follows on from, as reported by Steve Rosenberg,

"In an exhibition hall opposite the Kremlin, Vladimir Putin walks onto a stage.

There's rapturous applause, a standing ovation.

No surprise there. The invited guests - many of them Russian celebrities - are officially supporting Mr Putin's candidacy in the presidential election in March.

The Kremlin leader is running for a fifth term in office. The audience here is only too pleased.
" (BBC News : 31 January 2024) (my emphasis)

And what does Putin (?) say to his audience?

As reported by Vladimir Isachenkov (right),

"President Vladimir Putin vowed Wednesday to push back Ukrainian forces to reduce the threat of attacks on Russian territory as he met with activists running his campaign ahead of the March presidential election that he's all but certain to win.

Asked about plans for the military campaign in Ukraine, Putin said the line of contact needs to be pushed back to "such a distance from our territory that will make it safe from Western-supplied long-range artillery that Ukrainian authorities use for shelling peaceful cities." (AP on CTV News : 1 February 2024) (my emphasis)

Putin, vowing to reduce the threat from Ukraine's armed forces, comes against the backdrop of,

"Ukraine launched a massive missile barrage against four Russian military positions in occupied Crimea on Wednesday.
...

It came a day after Ukrainian forces struck a radar station used by air defence systems in north-western Crimea.

Explosions and active surface-to-air interceptors were reported in the major port city of Sevastopol and the nearby military airfield of Belbek." (Joe Barnes : The Telegraph : 31 January 2024) (my emphasis)

As also reported by David Averre and Will Stewart,

"Ukraine's armed forces today claimed to have sunk another Russian warship using kamikaze attack drones in a formidable strike off the coastline of Crimea.

Footage shared by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence showed how its unmanned seafaring vessels bore down on the £55 million Black Sea missile ship Ivanovets.

The 184ft warship was hit by multiple drones off annexed Crimea and was reportedly sunk after suffering massive hull damage." (Daily Mail : 1 February 2024) (my emphasis)

Daily Mail : 1 February 2024 : YouTube

Putin's (?) 'macho' words before an admiring audience rings rather 'hollow' in light of Ukraine's devastating onslaught against his forces in Ukraine's Crimea.