Well, you see - in certain respects you know more about Russia than I do! I totally missed the 1990s and 2000s decades since I only begun looking at Russia again in 2011 when a potential conflict with the West started emerging slowly.
I do not see any evidence that the leadership in Moscow was "fooled" for eight years. Nor was the leadership in Beijing. On the contrary. Extensive preparations for the upcoming war were in progress the whole time. Erroneous beliefs like this are unlikely to lead to correct prognoses about the future. But it is interesting that some people who ought to know better actually believe this.
The fact of "fooling" was recognized by the top leadership of Russia since a long time ago. In his interviews back in 2016 Putin admitted that he was fooled by Obama when he followed his request to influence Yanukovich not to use force to suppress the violent protests in exchange for no-escalation from American side. This led to Yanukovich being overthrown with American help only hours after peace agreement between Yanukovich and Ukrainian opposition was signed. Later, already this year, when meeting with widows of soldiers that died during SMO Putin admitted that he underestimated resolve of the population of Donbass not to return to Ukraine and resolve of Ukrainian regime to destroy them and action should have been taken much earlier to protect people there. Last November Angela Merkel and François Hollande made statements that they signed Minsk Agreements not for achieving peace, but only with the purpose of giving Ukraine more time to strengthen their military for the next round of conflict. This was echoed by "I told you so" by millions across Russia and Ukraine since it became very evident to everyone by the end of 2015 when none of the points of agreement were completed by Ukraine that didn't want to even comply with a seize fire, let alone a lasting peace. This is only using Ukraine as an example, but there are many more examples of recognized fooling like expansion of NATO, arms control agreements etc.
I attribute your comment to the fact that you probably don't watch Russia/Ukraine space too closely. There is a certain idealistic aura in the Russian view on China, probably something like that exists in China too with regards to Russia.
Why do you think that Putin always tells the truth? The fact that Putin claims to have been fooled does not make it true. His broad knowledge and keen analytical skills, plus the extensive war preparations, point to the opposite conclusion.
No, I don't know the names exactly, but taking into account what E. Prigozhin said recently that "AP (president's administration) is full of people who can't wait for Russia to lose this war", probably the party of achieving peace by loosing is massive, and not only in political circles, but in high military command as well.
This is one excellent reference to the today's article by Maxim Kalashnikov a.k.a. Vladimir Kucherenko. He is part of the same "club" and political party (Партия Дела, roughly translated as Action Party) as Vladimir Boglaev, general director of the foundry factory in Cherepovets. People like Igor Strelkov and the one I have presented yesterday, Lev Vershinin, are parts of the intersecting (not overlapping) circles, a group that with all internal variety can be loosely named "angry patriots". I can't say that I always agree with them in everything, but at this point they represent the most constructive segment of political opposition in Russia. Their general stance can be described as follows: "we won't rock the boat too much right now to destabilize the country, since we learned the lessons of 1991, but we'll be ready for action if the system will begin to crumble".
For during the year of the war, the psychological profiles of Moscow's elites have been finalized, and there is a sense of confidence that the Kremlin can be squeezed enough to give in by promising them not to criminally prosecute and by allowing certain people from todays ruling class to remain at the helm under the "new order"
Why not just buy the resources without the war footing?
The losers will be the common people, a continuation on the war against peasants should be considered, the beginning of which came the Twelve Articles.
From the Russian side came the Holodomor, among other tragedies. The English speaking side a bit more discreet.
Thanks for this translation, Stanley.
You're welcome!
Thanks again Stanley. I hope you don't have anything against Grieg's Piano Concerto:
Кай Метов - Position no 2 with Orchestra;
https://youtu.be/njkJe3qBFeE
Or Tomboys:
Serebro - Tomboy's Hearts:
https://youtu.be/ZDLKr4Sp7es
The Ouest needs to see the Russians are humans. They really do.
Well, you see - in certain respects you know more about Russia than I do! I totally missed the 1990s and 2000s decades since I only begun looking at Russia again in 2011 when a potential conflict with the West started emerging slowly.
I do not see any evidence that the leadership in Moscow was "fooled" for eight years. Nor was the leadership in Beijing. On the contrary. Extensive preparations for the upcoming war were in progress the whole time. Erroneous beliefs like this are unlikely to lead to correct prognoses about the future. But it is interesting that some people who ought to know better actually believe this.
The fact of "fooling" was recognized by the top leadership of Russia since a long time ago. In his interviews back in 2016 Putin admitted that he was fooled by Obama when he followed his request to influence Yanukovich not to use force to suppress the violent protests in exchange for no-escalation from American side. This led to Yanukovich being overthrown with American help only hours after peace agreement between Yanukovich and Ukrainian opposition was signed. Later, already this year, when meeting with widows of soldiers that died during SMO Putin admitted that he underestimated resolve of the population of Donbass not to return to Ukraine and resolve of Ukrainian regime to destroy them and action should have been taken much earlier to protect people there. Last November Angela Merkel and François Hollande made statements that they signed Minsk Agreements not for achieving peace, but only with the purpose of giving Ukraine more time to strengthen their military for the next round of conflict. This was echoed by "I told you so" by millions across Russia and Ukraine since it became very evident to everyone by the end of 2015 when none of the points of agreement were completed by Ukraine that didn't want to even comply with a seize fire, let alone a lasting peace. This is only using Ukraine as an example, but there are many more examples of recognized fooling like expansion of NATO, arms control agreements etc.
I attribute your comment to the fact that you probably don't watch Russia/Ukraine space too closely. There is a certain idealistic aura in the Russian view on China, probably something like that exists in China too with regards to Russia.
Why do you think that Putin always tells the truth? The fact that Putin claims to have been fooled does not make it true. His broad knowledge and keen analytical skills, plus the extensive war preparations, point to the opposite conclusion.
He talks about rumors of losing the conventional war in the end. Do you know what he is referring to?
No, I don't know the names exactly, but taking into account what E. Prigozhin said recently that "AP (president's administration) is full of people who can't wait for Russia to lose this war", probably the party of achieving peace by loosing is massive, and not only in political circles, but in high military command as well.
Im writing a wagner piece, can you link me this statement please?
I don't see what military command would gain, but the Kremlin elites for sure. Also, the business caste. Probably the FSB too.
Rolo, If you haven't already take a look at this concerning Wagner. I think it's very good.
https://m-kalashnikov.livejournal.com/4345290.html
This is one excellent reference to the today's article by Maxim Kalashnikov a.k.a. Vladimir Kucherenko. He is part of the same "club" and political party (Партия Дела, roughly translated as Action Party) as Vladimir Boglaev, general director of the foundry factory in Cherepovets. People like Igor Strelkov and the one I have presented yesterday, Lev Vershinin, are parts of the intersecting (not overlapping) circles, a group that with all internal variety can be loosely named "angry patriots". I can't say that I always agree with them in everything, but at this point they represent the most constructive segment of political opposition in Russia. Their general stance can be described as follows: "we won't rock the boat too much right now to destabilize the country, since we learned the lessons of 1991, but we'll be ready for action if the system will begin to crumble".
Have a look at this: https://sozero.livejournal.com/10302425.html
And that: https://m.tsargrad.tv/news/bashni-kremlja-poluchili-udar-ot-chvk-chto-izvestno-o-zajavlenii-prigozhina_706436
Prigozhin statements were released using his press services Tg channel, I don't have access to it.
For during the year of the war, the psychological profiles of Moscow's elites have been finalized, and there is a sense of confidence that the Kremlin can be squeezed enough to give in by promising them not to criminally prosecute and by allowing certain people from todays ruling class to remain at the helm under the "new order"
Why not just buy the resources without the war footing?
The losers will be the common people, a continuation on the war against peasants should be considered, the beginning of which came the Twelve Articles.
From the Russian side came the Holodomor, among other tragedies. The English speaking side a bit more discreet.