The Guardian view of Putin’s propaganda: The legend of the strong man hides the great strategic weakness Editorial

andOr a quarter of a century, the Russian media cultivated the Legend of Vladimir Putin’s leadership inspired by. Government propaganda does not allow any hint of the presidential sinner. When things get worse, the official news ignores the setbacks. When problems cannot be reduced, Mr. Putin is portrayed as a wise corrector of the mistakes she made.

Foreign perceptions of Mr. Putin were formed through this image. It has been strengthened online through the effects of the Kremlin and embraced by nationalist politicians who admire the methods of the Russian president of local control and contempt for the rule of law.

Until recently, Donald Trump was the strongest character in that category. The American president does not depend on democratic pluralism, but he has become more complained in Russia and is less beneficial to his admiration for its president. Moscow has threatened tightening penalties if there was no progress towards a ceasefire in Ukraine by the end of this week. Steve Whitchov, the White House Special Envoy, met Putin on Wednesday for conversations. The essence of the discussion was not clear.

The uncertainty is also the reasons for Mr. Trump’s variable position and his durability. It seems that the NATO summit in June was decisive in pushing the president towards a greater appreciation of the alliance and doubting the claims of Mr. Putin that he wanted peace.

The presidential ego is also a factor. Mr. Trump carried a pledge to end the Ukraine war and imagine that it could be done quickly. His initial method was the side lines and Volodimir Zelinski, President of Ukraine, with comprehensive regional concessions to Russia. This was a disgraceful betrayal of the besieged democracy and a reward for unjustified military aggression. It was a gift for the Russian president. However, Mr. Putin was not satisfied and instead the attack intensified.

Mr. Trump has no record of sympathy for Ukraine’s ordeal, but he is badly sensitive to hitting. Mr. Putin embarrassed his refusal to hold a quick deal.

The motives of the Russian president are also mysterious. It may bet on the United States remains keen to secure a ceasefire on the basis of the land for peace, thus seizing more lands before the White House patience is completely running out. But he is also trapped with his maximum demands. Hundreds of thousands of Russian youth have sent their deaths on the basis that the nation is closed in an existential struggle with the West. Ukraine was thrown as a Ragge province to reintegrate it into the largest Russian homeland. He directed the country’s economy to the permanent war. His image as a great military leader is in danger if Mr. Zelinski is still the head of a viable sovereign state when weapons are silent.

There does not seem to be a great plan behind Mr. Putin’s design on continuing the brutal attrition war. It does this through stagnation and crazy. It appears to be afraid to end the fighting with conditions that risk the ordinary Russians who are completely holding a terrible vocalism in the entire bloody actions.

History will definitely record the behavior of Mr. Putin in Ukraine as a fake murderous act. The legend of the Russian president as a kind of mastermind is just another weapon for advertising. Its function is to display strength when there is a weakness, and the victory is inevitable when the war facts describe a group of Kremlin’s failure.

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