Putin Thinks He's Winning: And his plans go far beyond Ukraine.

[Nevilledog]

Link to tweet

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/18/opinion/putin-russia-ukraine-winning.html

No paywall
https://archive.ph/a9yIU


Everything is going according to plan.

That’s the line from President Vladimir Putin. The war in Ukraine, in its fifth month and with no end in sight, may be grueling. But senior Kremlin officials keep repeating that Russia, gaining the upper hand in Ukraine’s east, will achieve all its goals.

That might seem hard to believe. After all, Russia has been forced to retreat from Kyiv, experienced several military reversals, faced sanctions on an unprecedented scale and been subjected to a chorus of international condemnation. To call such a litany of difficulties and outright failures a success may be to court the charge of propaganda, hypocrisy or even self-delusion.

But it’s what the Kremlin seems to believe. Over two decades I have closely followed Mr. Putin’s words, behavior and decisions, forming a comprehensive picture of the president’s calculations. Based on public rhetoric, policy moves and informal discussions with insiders, I have been able to work out — as far as is possible — the contours of the Kremlin’s current thinking. What is very clear is that in late May, the Kremlin came to the firm conclusion that it is winning this conflict in the long run. And Mr. Putin, in contrast to the early chaotic months, now has a clear plan.

Consisting of three main dimensions, the plan is a kind of strategic Russian doll. Each aspect fits within another, amounting to a grand scheme that goes far beyond Ukraine yet centers on it. It may sound extremely fanciful, and it certainly reveals how divorced from reality — to put it mildly — Mr. Putin is. But it’s important for the West, whose response has wavered between confrontation and acquiescence, to understand the full scope of Mr. Putin’s hopes as it continues to assess its role in defending Ukraine against Russian aggression.

*snip*

[PortTack]

1. According to British intel and British military, Poland too they think Poopin will try and push past

Ukraine. The Brits are increasing their military spending and intend to increase their man power base as they are beginning to say out loud they think they will have to fight another war in Europe.

Also, the recent decision by the US to give Ukraine f-15 and f-16 fighter jets reflects the same sentiment here. No doubt Poopin will have his ass handed to him…in tiny pieces if he does..but if this is what he thinks, then we must step up!

[Make7]

2. Day 145 of the 14 day special military operation. All is going according to plan.

"If I wanted to, I could take Kiev in two weeks." - Putin, 2014

[Raine]

3. I'm sure he has bigger plans to go further but no way do

I believe his invasion of Ukraine went according to plans. Putin thought he could do it in a long weekend or no longer then a few weeks, months later he still hasn't achieved his goal.

[Irish_Dem]

9. The point is that the initial failure didn't deter PUTIN from his long term plans.

He still plans on establishing a new world order.
The West will be friendly to him and under his control.

The article doesn't say it, but the plan is for China to be in control of the East.

Putin has successfully weakened western democracies, and the US has been particularly hard hit.

The GOP is getting control of the voting system as we speak and Russia friendly radiCal GOPers will be installed. Just like Trump or worse.

[uponit7771]

11. I don't see western corps flooding back into Russia even if Putler gets his way in Ukraine for the

... next 10 yrs minimum.

In that time western Europe is organically going to move away from energy ties to the yolo asshole Putler and there's not a lot he can do with that.

Putler gambled this would be quick and his own finance minister admits they didn't think the west would go ham like it did.

Too bad, now Russia suffers in the long run

[Irish_Dem]

15. Business will go where the money is.

Putin is the wealthiest man in the world, and he may sweeten the pot to the point businesses cannot say no.

Yes if the businesses were rational they would stay away from Russia. But we know that businesses are greedy vultures. They can be enticed quite easily.

But I do hope you are right.

[uponit7771]

19. Business's might investors wont, Siemens left Russia

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/05/12/siemens-to-leave-russia-due-to-ukraine-war.html#:~:text=Siemens%20will%20quit%20the%20Russian,profit%20during%20its%20second%20quarter.

[Skittles]

4. I thought that little fucker was dying

whatever happened to THAT?

[Amishman]

16. Cancer is slow

and I imagine Putin is getting the best treatment the Russian people's money can buy

[former9thward]

20. There has never been any hard evidence of cancer.

To date, just internet rumor.

[Amishman]

21. Shhhh, let me hope

There are only a handful of people on this planet I would wish cancer upon, but Putin qualifies.

I hope he has some form of ass cancer, one that spread to his brain. So that he dies of his own mutated butt cells trashing his horrible evil mind from the inside.

[Earth-shine]

5. "Everything is going according to plan." -- Putin

It's laughable. Nothing but some propaganda for a sound bite.

Putin and Russian command are constant serial liars at the level of the infamous Bagdad Bob.

[modrepub]

6. So Basically, The Possession of Nuclear Weapons

grants you the right to be insane.

[Tomconroy]

7. The last paragraph of the article seems to suggest he is

delusional and will eventually figure it out.
I saw an article by a German bemoaning the possibility that they may have to set their thermostats at 17 degrees Celsius this winter. That's about 62 degrees.
I set mine to 55 at night. I'm ready for war.

[Irish_Dem]

8. I think this is very accurate.

Putin and China are going for a new world order.

They will go to any lengths to achieve it.

Edit to add: He has been funding the GOP radicals to end democracy and to install a Russian friendly dictatorship here in the US.

[Cosmocat]

10. That is the saddest part

he is actually has more traction in taking the US down without even having to use any military force, than he is in the Ukraine.

[uponit7771]

12. +1,

[Irish_Dem]

13. Exactly. His plan to destroy democracy in this US has been very successful.

He has also destabilized the country, spreading hatred and fear, and terrorizing Americans into compliance.

Putin did this without firing a shot.

[Irish_Dem]

14. Putin has installed his puppet government in the US, one that hates Americans.

And democracy.

Even with a Dem POTUS and Senate, we are having a hard time stopping the evil from taking over.

[harumph]

17. presumptuous putin proposes preposterous plan

[tinrobot]

18. Reminds me of Monty Python's Black Knight.

He may gain a few square miles in Ukraine, but at what cost? Their economy won't survive the winter.