table. He knew what would happen but did it anyway. He wants to restore the former Soviet Union. He’s a true believer now. So he must be stopped or killed. Either way he will be dead within a year.
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Honestly, this whole thing feels really nihilistic - like he doesn't care what the ramifications are in the next 3-5 years, which will be significant.
Some opine that the invasion and desire to install a puppet (pre 2014) government in Kiev, is more about Putin signaling to his own people: “don’t ever try it here in Russia or it will go bad for you.”
That looks like a person making decisions from a position of fear.
My sense is that Putin has felt Russian public sentiment changing over the past couple years. And he’s reacting.
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