“Putin will rely on the slogan: external enemies are to blame for everything. The war against Ukraine and international isolation serve as a kind of alibi for him, masking his own failures inside Russia.”

Sergiy Solodkyy, First Deputy Director of the New Europe Center, commented for TSN.ua regarding Russia’s presidential “elections” scheduled for March 17, 2024.

“Putin fully understands that the war creates significant threats for him. Otherwise, critics of the war wouldn’t be imprisoned. Putin fears the anger of Russians no less than Russians currently fear him. The problem is that social upheaval happens when it is least expected and cannot be predicted. That is why Putin feels compelled to somewhat appease the segment of the electorate that is beginning to ask the right questions.

This is linked to his constant ‘invitations’ to the West for negotiations — he is showing Russians that he is supposedly trying to end the war, while enemies leave him no choice. Putin will scare Russians with imaginary threats, call for peace, and cozy up to African coup leaders to demonstrate his legitimacy on the international stage.”

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