Putin's temporary euphoria belies his fear that time is not on his side.

From February 16-18, 2024, the 60th Munich Security Conference was the center of international diplomacy.

At the top of its agenda was the ongoing war in Ukraine that was set off by Putin in 2014, when Ukraine's Crimea was invaded, occupied, and annexed by Putin, and the Donbas was occupied by Putin's forces. Subsequently, on the 24 February 2022, Putin re-invaded Ukraine in an escalation of the war that started in 2014.

But this time, however, Putin's ongoing war with Ukraine is threatening to spill over into EU NATO countries that is causing alarm bells to be rung across the EU, especially in the Baltic countries of Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania  and, more significantly, in Poland.

In his recent interview withTucker Carlson, Putin blames Poland for starting WW2.

As Rachel Maddow quotes Putin from this interview,

"Putin : The Poles had not given the Danzig corridor to Germany, and went too far, pushing Hitler to start World War II by attacking them. Why was it Poland against whom the war started, on 1st September 1939? Poland turned out to be uncompromising , and Hitler had nothing to do but start implementing his plans with Poland"   (MSNBC : 13 February 2024) (my emphasis)  

MSNBC : 13 February 2024

Recall that in my blog entry of 4 May 2015 I wrote that,

"Is it any wonder that both Hilary Clinton and Prince Charles  likened Putin's actions in Ukraine to those of Hitler during the 1930's?

"Now if this sounds familiar, it's what Hitler did back in the '30s," Clinton said Tuesday, according to the Long Beach Press-Telegram.

"All the Germans that were ... the ethnic Germans, the Germans by ancestry who were in places like Czechoslovakia and Romania and other places, Hitler kept saying they're not being treated right. I must go and protect my people, and that's what's gotten everybody so nervous." (Hilary Clinton : The Washington Post : March 5, 2014) (my emphasis)" (Blog Entry : 4 May 2015)

And now, as Rachel Maddow further points out,

"Less than 48 hours after that interview posted online, former President Donald Trump, at a rally, said if he's president again, basically he would not honour that committment [of the US defending a NATO country if attacked, according to Article 5] .... if that country were attacked by Russia, "No, I would not protect you". (ibid Rachel Maddow in video above)

CNBC News : The National : 12 February 2024 : YouTube

Like Hitler in 1939, Putin's current threats against Poland are underscored by, as reported by  Miriam Kuepper (left),

"Vladimir Putin has snarled that the Ukraine war is a 'matter of life and death' for Russia that could determine its fate as his forces rain down death on cities in the east of the country.

The Kremlin has repeatedly framed the almost two-year conflict as a battle for Russia's survival in a bid to rally patriotic sentiment among its population, many apathetic toward the offensive." (Mail Online : 18 February 2024) (my emphasis)

Further undescoring Putin's current threats against Poland, his glove-puppet, Dmitry Medvedev, as reported by Alexander Khrebet (right),

"Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, on Feb. 18 threatened to use nuclear weapons against the U.S., the U.K., Germany, and Ukraine if Moscow loses all occupied Ukrainian territories.
...

"Attempts to restore Russia's 1991 borders will lead only to one thing - a global war with Western countries with the use of our entire strategic (nuclear) arsenal against Kyiv, Berlin, London, and Washington. And against all other beautiful historic places that have long been included in the flight targets of our nuclear triad," Medvedev said in a reference to the triad of intercontinental ballistic missiles, submarine-launched ballistic missiles, and strategic bombers with nuclear weapons." (Kyiv Independent on Yahoo News : 18 February 2024) (my emphasis) 

One should not underestimate these "nuclear armageddon" threats of Medvedev.

More so since Putin is trumpeting as a victory the withdrawal of Ukraine's forces from Avdiivka. 

And it is common knowledge that the withdrawal of Ukraine's forces from Avdiivka primarily stemmed from the slowing down of urgently needed weapons, and particularly ammunition,  from EU countries, and especially from the US, where Republicans are witholding Biden's financial and military support for Ukraine. 

As Karen Gilchrist (right) reports,

"The West is suffering a “colossal failure of imagination” in thinking Russia’s war in Ukraine will not hit them next, European policymakers have been told amid calls for a doubling down of transatlantic support for Kyiv.

 Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen (left) criticized a waning sense of urgency among delegates at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday as Moscow’s full-scale offensive nearly enters its third year.

“The sense of urgency is simply not clear enough in our discussions,” Frederiksen told a lunchtime session. “We have to speed up and we have to scale up.” (CNBC : 17 February 2024) (my emphasis)

CNN : Sebastian Shukla : Munich Security Conference: February2024

Putin and his 'siloviki' may have been emboldened by Ukraine's withdrawal from Avdiivka.

But, like his glove-puppet Dmitry Medvedev and his 'siloviki', this temporary euphoria of Putin belies a real fear that time is not on their side. 

UPDATE : 19 February 2024 

Charles Harrison (left) reports that,

"A NATO ally has provided a boost to Ukraine’s defence against Vladimir Putin’s invasion by donating its entire artillery to the war.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced that Denmark would transfer all of its artillery to Ukraine, calling on other European states to provide further support. “They need them more now”, she added.
...
Announcing the artillery donation, she said: “Ukraine is asking us for ammunition and artillery now. We, Denmark, have decided to transfer all our artillery to Ukraine. So, sorry, friends, there is military equipment in Europe, it is not only a matter of production.

“We have weapons, ammunition, air defence systems, which we do not use yet. They must be handed over to Ukraine.” (Express : 18 February 2024)

As Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen says,

“Ukraine is asking us for ammunition and artillery now. We, Denmark, have decided to transfer all our artillery to Ukraine. So, sorry, friends, there is military equipment in Europe, it is not only a matter of production." (ibid Charles Harrison)

 

(to be continued)

Putin's choice is between stemming Russia's failing economy or his re-coronation as Czar.

It should come as no surprise that Elon Musk, that 'Privileged Apartheid-Reared South African', has been dubbed 'Colonel Elon Muskov' amongst Russian pro-war fanatics.

As reported by Perkin Amalaraj and Will Stewart (left),

"Russian pro-war fanatics have dubbed Elon Musk 'Colonel Elon Muskov', amid claims that his Starlink satellite system is deployed by Vladimir Putin's forces in occupied Ukraine.
...
Russia's 83rd Guards Air Assault Brigade are among those using the service, around the Klishchiivka and Andriivka battlefields, says the Ukrainian GUR military intelligence agency.
...
It appears to be operative in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions of occupied Ukraine, giving a decisive military advantage to Putin's forces." (Mail Online : 12 February 2024) (my emphasis)

Like Senator Tommy Tuberville who, as reported by Rachel Dobkin (right),

"Senator Tommy Tuberville, an Alabama Republican, has received harsh criticism online for defending Russian President Vladimir Putin.
...
"Last night's @TuckerCarlson's interview with Putin shows that Russia is open to a peace agreement, while it is DC warmongers who want to prolong the war. That is why I'm voting to stop 60 BILLION MORE of our tax dollars to this conflict," the senator wrote." (Newsweek on Microsoft Start : 11 February 2024) (my emphasis),

Elon Musk,

" ..... told US Republican senators “there is no way in hell” that Russian President Vladimir Putin could lose the war on Ukraine, weighing in on a conflict that has been affected by Musk’s own Starlink satellite services.
...

The discussion included Musk, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, Mike Lee of Utah, JD Vance of Ohio, former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and co-founder of Craft Ventures LLC David Sacks." ( Vinay Patel (left): Bloomberg on Business Standard : 13 February 2024) (my emphasis)

Putin must be cock-a-hoop at the public pronouncements by Musk and sympathetic Republicans in BOTH the US Senate and Congress ssupporting his invasion of Ukraine.

Putin's delerious joy at those public pronouncements by Musk and sympathetic Republicans in BOTH the US Senate and Congress follows on from, as reported by Yuliia Dysa (right),

"A preliminary analysis concluded that Russia hit Kyiv last week with the hypersonic Zircon missile, its first use in the nearly two-year-old war, the head of a Kyiv research institute said on Monday, presenting a new challenge to Ukraine's air defences.
....
Oleksandr Ruvin, director of the Kyiv Scientific-Research Institute for Forensic Examinations, said on his Telegram channel that his institute completed a preliminary analysis of missile fragments from a Russian attack on Feb. 7." (Reuters : 12 February 2024) (my emphasis)

The Telegraph : January 2024 : YouTube

But putting something of a damper on Putin's unbridled joy at Musk and sympathetic Republicans, Isabelle Stanley (left) reports that,

"Senators advanced a $95 billion foreign aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan on Sunday despite opposition from Donald Trump and Republican hardliners.

The Democratic-led Senate voted 67-27 in a rare Sunday session to clear the latest procedural hurdle and move the foreign aid measure toward an ultimate vote in the coming days." (Daily Mail : 11 February 2024) (my emphasis)

Added to which,

• Alexander Stubb declared himself winner of Finland's presidential election on Sunday after a campaign built on promises to make the most of his country's new membership of NATO and back Ukraine in its war with shared neighbour Russia. (Anne Kauranen : Reuters : 11 February 2024) (my emphasis)
• The governments of Poland, France and Germany have vowed to make Europe a security and defense power with a greater ability to back Ukraine. The move has taken on an urgency as fears grow that former Donald Trump might return to the White House and allow Russia to expand its aggression. (Euronews on Microsoft Start : 13 February 2024) (my emphasis)
• The Council of the EU on Monday adopted a decision and a regulation that pave the way toward using the profits generated by confiscated Russian assets to finance Ukraine's reconstruction.
  
  The move, which is in line with steps taken by the G7, establishes a legislative route by which profits generated by confiscated Russian assets under specific circumstances could ultimately find their way toward Ukraine via the EU budget. ( Joe Stanley-Smith : Politico : 13 February 2024) (my emphasis)
  

Putin [Pu-truschev], determined to inflict greater pain with his continued  missile onslaught on the people of Ukraine as his 'coronation as Czar of Russia' looms closer simply cannot stem the continued decline in Russia's economic coffers.

Musk and friends may be waving flags of support for him, but those flags simply will not help him economically.

Now, more than ever, Putin [Pu-truschev] realises that his choice is between stemming the continuing failure of the Russian economy or his looming re-coronation as Czar of Russia.

Mony Builders : January 2024 : YouTube

UPDATE : 16 February 2024

Steve Rosenberg (left) reports that,

"For us, who's better, Biden or Trump?" Russian TV correspondent Pavel Zarubin asked President Putin.

"Biden," Vladimir Putin replied in a flash. "He's more experienced, he's predictable, he's an old-style politician." (BBC News : 15 february 2024) (my emphasis)

How interesting that Putin should publicly state that he prefers Biden over Trump.

But why?

Rosenberg goes on to say that,

"Still, if Donald Trump does become the Republican Party's official nominee for the 2024 presidential election, he won't escape questions about Putin and Russia.

Only now, Team Trump can point to these Kremlin comments about Biden and use them to deflect the inevitable accusations that Mr Trump is the Kremlin's choice." (ibid Steve Rosenberg)

Putin's criticism of  the Tucker Carlson interview also rather underscores his 'maskirovka' motive of stating that he prefers Biden over Trump.

Giulia Carbonaro : Newsweek : 15 February 2024

As Elesa Zehndorfer (left) explains,

"When White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki commented on March 9 that "they [the Kremlin] have a sort of a maskirovka, a fake story, ready to go," what did she mean?

Psaki was referring to a central element of a Soviet-era approach to non-militarized warfare known as reflexive control, or reflexive mind control. It is a devastatingly effective technique. Used to win the hearts and minds of an electorate, it is frequently used to justify—or strengthen—military action. Currently, it is being deployed as a key strategic element of Russia's invasion of Ukraine." (Psychology Today : 22 march 2022) (my emphasis)

Elesa Zehndorfer rather puts into perspective Putin's recent 'pro Biden' comments! 

UPDATE 2 : 16 Febuary 2024 : 13.49

It has just been reported that Alexey Navalny has died in prison.

As reported by Kelly-Ann Mills,

"Vladimir Putin's most vocal critic has died just months after he was discovered in one of Russia's toughest jails, 20 days after going missing.

Alexei Navalny reportedly fell unconscious after he was put in solitary confinement before his death.
...
In his last post Mr Navalny had sent a Valentine’s message on February 14, to his wife Yulia, 47. It read: "Baby, everything is like in a song with you: between us there are cities, the take-off lights of airfields, blue snowstorms and thousands of kilometres. But I feel that you are near every second, and I love you more and more.” (The Mirror : 16 February 2024) (my emphasis)

R.I.P. 

The true nature of Putin and his 'siloviki' is revealed for all the world to see.

 

(to be continued)

Putin is praying that US Republicans continue to withold US support for Ukraine

As the re-anointing of Putin as 'Supreme Leader and Czar of Russia' draws ever closer, so does his indiscrimanate terror bombing of the people of Ukraine continue to accelerate.

 As reported by Olena Harmash and Yurii Kovalenko (left),

"Russia unleashed missile and drone strikes on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities during Wednesday morning's rush hour, killing five people, wounding more than 30, and damaging residential buildings and energy infrastructure, Ukrainian officials said.......
"Another massive attack against our state. Six regions were struck by the enemy. All our services are now working to cope with the consequences of this terror," President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on the Telegram messaging app." (Reuters : 7 February 2024) (my emphasis) 

Putin is determined to bomb the people of Ukraine into submission before his inevitable crowning glory as the "Supreme Leader and Czar of Russia."

cf. AFP News Agency : 7 January 2024 : YouTube

And in the US, Donald Trump continues his 'bromance' with Putin by deperately ensuring that his Republican 'cult' followers in the US Senate and Congress continue to stymie US President Biden's aid for Ukraine. 

Under the guise of rejecting US President Biden's aid for securing the Southern border of the US against illegal immigration, US aid for Ukraine has also been blocked by the Republican party in the Senate.

In the words of US Republican Senator James Lankford (right),

"Popular commentator, four weeks ago that I talked to .. they told me flat out, before they knew ANY of the CONTENTS of the Bill, that, "If you try to move a Bill that solves the border crisis during this presidential year I will do whatever I can to destroy you because I do NOT want you to solve this during the presidential election" (Lawrence O' Donnell : MSNBC : 8 February 2024) (my emphasis)

Lawrence O' Donnell : MSNBC : 8 February 2024 : YouTube

This rejection of the Southern border Bill by Republican politicians, a Bill that INCLUDES aid for Ukraine, is been hailed by Putin and his 'siloviki' in the Kremlin as a 'green light' for ramping up their onslaught of terror against the people of Ukraine.

The Biden aid for Ukraine is precisely for Ukraine to defend itself against Putin's [Pu-truschev's] 'terror onslaught' against the people of Ukraine.

Step forward Emmanuel Macron, President of France!

As reported by David Axe,

 "Ukraine needs warplanes. France is retiring some of its delta-wing Mirage 2000Ds. And the French government already has pledged to Ukraine the Mirage’s best precision-guided munitions.
...
Moreover, the Mirages could reach Ukraine shortly after Ukraine also receives a large consignment—hundreds, according to Macron—of Hammer rocket-boosted bombs, each ranging as far as 34 miles. (Forbes : 6 February 2024) (my emphasis)

David Axe further reports that,

"Ukrainian officials have been eyeing the type even as they work with Danish, Dutch and Norwegian officials to acquire score of surplus European Lockheed Martin F-16s—and get Ukrainian pilots qualified on the single-seat fighters in the United States and Romania." (ibid  David Axe)  

France, Denmark, Holland, and Norway have rather put a damper on the exuberance of Putin [Pu-truschev] and his 'Kremlin siloviki' celebrations of Republicans in the US Senate blocking Biden's aid for Ukraine.

Indicative of Putin [Pu-truschev] and his Kremlin 'siloviki's  fear of extra US aid to Ukraine is the fact, as reported by Rebecca Rommen (right), that,

"Russian military bloggers have hit out at Kremlin propagandists after they ignored recent "blunders" made by the Russian army, the think tank the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said.

They pointed to one particularly damning loss in an armored assault against Ukraine's 72nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade near the village of Novomykhailivka in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, per the report.

In the assault, Russian forces reportedly came under attack from Ukrainian drones and sustained heavy losses, losing a column of armored vehicles, including several T-72 tanks and fighting vehicles." (Business Insider : 4 February 2024) (my emphasis)

Underscoring what Russian military bloggers are revealing; as reported by  Sinéad Baker (left),

"Russian prisoners who are sent to fight in Ukraine are now being made to serve until the war ends instead of just for six months, the BBC reported.
...
But prisoners who sign up for the fight now are being told that they will likely have to stay on the front lines until the end, according to the BBC.

They can get a full release only if they get a state decoration, become incapacitated, reach the oldest age for serving in the military, or the war ends, the outlet reported." (Business Insider : 5 February 2024) (my emphasis)

Putin [Pu-truschev] simply cannot run away from the fact that the EU is filling the vacuum left by the the current witholding of military support for Ukraine by US Republicans.

Indeed, Putin [Pu-truschev] is praying that US Republicans continue to withold US support for Ukraine.

UPDATE : 9 February 2024 

In an outline by Jen Psaki of the changing and growing support of Putin by Republicans since his invasion of, and illegal annexation of, Ukraine's Crimea in 2014, US National Security advisor Jake Sullivan stated in December of 2023,

"Question To Jake Sullivan : "Do you think that any member of Congress who votes against aid to Ukraine is voting for Putin?

Jake Sullivan answer : "I believe that any member of Congress who does not support funding for Ukraine is voting for an outcome that will make it easier for Putin to prevail. That is, a vote against supporting Ukraine is a vote to improve Putin's position. That's just an inescapable reality" (MSNBC : 8 February 2024) (my emphasis)

MSNBC : 8 February 2024

 

(to be continued)

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.

 As Abraham Lincoln (right) once said,

“You can fool some of the people all of the time, 

and all of the people some of the time, 

but you can not fool all of the people all of the time.”

For how long will Putin (?) be able to 'fool ALL of the people of Russia ALL of the time?" 

CNN : 29 January 2024 : YouTube

 

(to be continued)

Putin's desperation is now on full view for all to see.

 Miriam Kuepper (left) reports that,

"Vladimir Putin is allegedly putting out feelers to see if America is ready for talks on ending the war in Ukraine.

The Russian president is also 'prepared to drop opposition to Kyiv joining Nato', according to a new Bloomberg report.

He approached senior US officials last month via an unnamed intermediary as he was 'testing the waters' to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine, two people close to the Kremlin claimed. (Mail Online : 26 January 2024) (my emphasis)

 As also reported by Bloomberg News,

"Vladimir Putin is testing the waters on whether the US is ready to engage in talks for ending Russia’s war in Ukraine.

He’s put out feelers to the US via indirect channels to signal he’s open to discussion, including potentially on future security arrangements for Ukraine, according to two people close to the Kremlin.

US officials say they’re not aware of the supposed overtures, which may amount to a trial balloon, and see no indication the Russian president is serious about looking for a way to end the fighting, which has settled into a deadly stalemate as the war heads into a third year. (Bloomberg News : 25 January 2024) (my emphasis)

But, as reported by Mark Trevelyan and Alison Williams (right),

"The Kremlin on Friday denied a Bloomberg report that President Vladimir Putin was "putting out feelers" to the United States for possible talks on ending the war in Ukraine and might consider dropping key demands on Ukraine's security status.

The Bloomberg report said Putin was "testing the waters" on whether Washington was ready to engage in talks, and had reached out to the United States via indirect channels." (Reuters : 26 January 2024) (my emphasis)

And whilst US officials state that Putin [Pu-truschev] may be flying a "trial baloon" to end his war with Ukraine, this "trial baloon" may just have something to do with the fact that,

"Ukraine appears to be targeting Russia's oil and gas industry with small, cheap drones as it seeks to disrupt Russian supply lines.

Fires have broken out at several energy infrastructure locations in Russia over the last few weeks following suspected drone strikes, including at a Rosneft oil refinery in Tuapse, a Rosneft storage facility in Klintsy, and Novatek's Baltic Sea Ust-Luga terminal.

Videos posted on social media appeared to show the fires at the facilities in Tuapse and Klintsy.

Ukraine is likely targeting the facilities in an attempt to disrupt Russia's military operations." (Alia Shoaib (left) : Business Insider : 27 January 2024) (my emphasis)

Joe Blogs : 23 January 2024 : YouTube

And as reported by Ukrayinska Pravda,

"Ukraine’s defence forces killed 770 Russian soldiers and destroyed 15 armoured combat vehicles and 3 artillery systems over the past day.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook" (Ukrayinska Pravda on Yahoo News : 27 January 2024) (my emphasis)

And on the economic front,, as reported by Charter97,

"Last year, Russian exports amounted to $422.7 billion — $169.4 billion (almost 30%) less than in the record year of 2022 ($592.1 billion) — this is the preliminary assessment of the Central Bank. This is the minimum since 2020, and if we exclude the pandemic year, since 2018.

At the same time, imports increased by $27.9 billion (10%) and returned to the pre-war level — $304.4 billion, as in 2021. This was the main factor in the collapse of the current account balance of the balance of payments — almost 5 times from $238 billion in 2022 to $50.2 billion." (Charter97 : 28 january 2024) (my emphasis)

And as now reported by Amy Walker (left),

"In Russia, the government and central bank are arguing about how best to protect the currency.

Putin considers his measures to be the best - the head of the central bank denies this.

Moscow : In Russia, a public dispute is emerging between President Vladimir Putin and central bank chief Elvira Nabiullina. (right)

This is about capital controls that are intended to stabilize the ruble.
...
Putin introduced capital controls to prevent currency collapse

The Russian government ordered the capital controls by decree in October 2023; they were initially limited to April.

According to the government's wishes, the regulation should run until the end of the year (i.e. 2024), as it announced on Tuesday (January 23) in the messaging app Telegram.

It obliges exporters to convert their foreign exchange earnings into the local currency, rubles.

In the summer of 2023, the ruble collapsed massively; at times there were 101 rubles for one dollar." (The Limited Times  : 26 January 2024) (my emphasis)

As the Russian economy continues to head South, and Ukraine continues to inflict serious damage on Putin's [Pu-truschev's] oil refineries and oil storage facilities, the very backbone of Russia's economy, is it any wonder that Putin [Pu-truschev] is now "flying 'peace' balloons"?

Putin's desperation is now on full view for all to see.  

                              

    

(to be continued)