Biden and Putin

First, this is a precedent. Brezhnev did not leave like that, nor did Chernenko or Andropov. After all, leaders of this level have almost never left the world before (Putin does not count Yeltsin, because Yeltsin is evil for Putin). Russians want to see a successor, because in reality, most of all (I emphasize most), politically, they fear Putin's death and the absence of a successor. Biden seems to be saying to Putin: "Where is the successor?". And Putin tells them, “There will be no successor.”

Second, it is clear that Russian propaganda has been preparing for this. And so far, their main message is very primitive and was voiced by spokesman Volodin: "Biden should be held accountable for the conflict in Ukraine, the destruction of the economies of European countries, and the sanctions policy against Russia and other countries." This is the main line of counterattack, or rather defense, of the Russians. And it is blunt, because it is designed exclusively for some Russians and a small part of the countries of the global south.

There is one more non-obvious aspect.

Putin thinks of his life not only and not so much in terms of Russia's greatness as in terms of his desire to prove something to the United States. And Biden has outplayed Putin here. And most of Putin's entourage understands this.

I by no means want to draw linear conclusions in this regard. We just have to understand that this story will continue the moment Putin falters. The biological clock will still work. Symbolic things, and Biden's voluntary departure is symbolic, sometimes work more effectively than repressive or military operations.

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About the author: Vadym Denysenko, political scientist.

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