Time for Putin

That's right on the money. Because Estonian intelligence reported that the Russian dictator is convinced that time is playing into his hands in the war against Ukraine, and, ultimately, against almost the entire world. This is a controversial conclusion, because it all depends on the point of view. Although, in my opinion, Putin is both in a hurry – as evidenced by the mantras of Russian propaganda about another "numerological" offensive timed to coincide with February 24 – and at the same time late.

In their report, Estonians write that Putin is stalling for time, believing that Ukraine and the West will run out of steam before Russia does. Well, a lot has already been said about "exhaustion," and to be honest, it is Russia that is exhausted. Because the war in Ukraine, on the contrary, no matter how cynical it may sound, has pushed the Western economy, shaken it up, forcing it to reorient itself not only in the energy sector (we are talking about Europe's oil and gas dependence), but also in other areas. In particular, in the defense sector. From an imaginary threat that used to be portrayed, I would say, in watercolors, and mostly by philosophers and futurists, Muscovy has become a real monster, a concentrated, visualized evil with which it is impossible to negotiate or talk about any common future.

“From an imaginary threat that used to be portrayed, I would say, in watercolors, and mostly by philosophers and futurists, Muscovy has become a real monster, a concentrated, visualized evil with which one cannot negotiate or talk about any common future”

The skeptics who used to talk about the "illusory" nature of Western sanctions are now forced to recognize the complete inability of the Russian economy to live under an economic noose. Last year, Russian budget expenditures grew by 2/3, while revenues (due to the oil and gas embargo) fell by 1/3.

Will the average Putin fan from the Russian hinterland still feel it? Apparently, yes. Mockingbirds say that Russian sausage has risen in price to unprecedented heights because of an elementary thing: there is no domestic production of casings for this "strategic" product, which is associated with the specific number "2.20."

“Mockingbirds say that the price of Russian sausage has risen to unprecedented heights because of an elementary thing: there is no domestic production of casings for this "strategic" product, which is associated with the specific number "2.20."

Therefore, Putin still has a problem with time. In a sense, the bunker old man is in a time crunch: he has few forces for an offensive, but the Ukrainian Armed Forces are already mastering new Western offensive techniques - the whole menagerie of tanks, long-range missile launchers, and so on.

Estonians correctly noted that Putin's arsenal includes "propaganda-induced imperialism," but more and more often on Muscovite TV channels we hear hysterical hints about the "likelihood of defeat," as well as completely insane ideas to attack Rzeszow or even Britain. Of course, when such things are said in public, they are probably first created in backroom conversations between politicians or the military. But, again, until it comes to time, it cannot be reversed. And what even the decrepit USSR could once afford is now too much for Putin's Russia. Therefore, when Baltic intelligence officers state with disappointment that there is not even a hint of "Gorbachev" or "Yeltsin" in Moscow's political circles, it means only one thing: "There is not a single significant group in a potential post-Putin Russia that professes democratic values." 

Perhaps that is why Putin believes that time is playing into his hands. At the same time, even he cannot calculate how those who now seem loyal and devoted to the dictator will behave and when they will decide to strike to realize their political intentions. He also cannot be sure of the regions’ degree of resistance that only appear to be "calm" and "satisfied" (like business elites). And what will Kadyrov or Prigozhin and their Wagner PMC decide to do when push comes to shove?

In the end, Putin is completely inadequate to the times in the sense of an era. He is trying to keep Russia in the regime of yesterday's autocracies, and its people in some kind of feudal medievalism that is completely incompatible with the 21st century. The people, however, do not mind, but they would like to color the brownish-gray colors of barbarism with splashes of European resorts and the delights of the latest devices. But this is not how it goes...

Therefore, Putin's time is no more than what is, as they say, "allotted" for him. And yet, time is a great teacher who, however, kills his students.  

About the author. Ihor Hulyk is a journalist and editor-in-chief of the Espreso.West website.

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