A former adviser to Vladimir Putin has explained that the only way he believes the Russian president can be stopped is through ‘resistance’, as the Ukrainian people have shown in the early days of their war with Russia.
Many have questioned the state of Putin’s behaviour, claiming that he seems to be acting in an erratic fashion.
However, Andrei Illarionov, who served as an economic adviser to Putin between 2000 and 2005, says that the Russian premier is not ‘losing his mind’ and he’s as ‘calculated’ as ever.
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Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, and continues to bombard cities in the country as we speak.
In response, the Ukrainian people have produced a spiriting fightback, and western nations have hit Russia with the most expansive sanctions in history.
However, speaking on Newsmax TV, his former adviser described Putin as ‘concentrated’, ‘calculated’, and ‘persistent’.
He also believes that sanctions are not the way in which Putin and Russia will be brought to heel.
The ex-politician explained: "He knows what he wants and is trying to implement policy to achieve his goals.
"The only thing that can really stop Putin in Ukraine and in Europe, is resistance. Resistance that is being produced by the Ukrainian military, while all Ukrainian people that heroically resisting these aggressions."
Some others within the international community have questioned Putin’s mental state since the invasion.
A source close to the French president Emmanuel Macron reported that he thought Putin was ‘stiffer and more isolated’ at a recent meeting.
Former US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice has also expressed her own concerns, telling Fox News: “This is a different Putin. He was always calculating and cold but this is different.”
She then added: “He seems erratic.”
Another ex-US Secretary, Robert Gates, told CNN that it seems as if Putin has ‘gone off the rails’.
Illarionov maintains that despite his seemingly erratic behaviour, Putin is ‘very very persistent in getting what he wants’ and claims that his mental state is on the slide are a ‘clear distraction’.
The Ukrainian government claims that more than 2,000 civilians have been killed since the fighting started, as per CNN.
The Russian Defence Ministry has said that nearly 500 Russian troops have been killed and 1,500 injured, so far.
That said, the Ukrainian Defence Ministry claims that the number of Russian service personnel killed is much higher.
So far, pleas from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for NATO to impose a no-fly zone to stop air strikes have been rejected.
Putin has maintained that the imposition of controls over airspace over Ukraine would be considered an act of war.
If you would like to donate to the Red Cross Emergency Appeal, which will help provide food, medicines and basic medical supplies, shelter and water to those in Ukraine, click here for more information.
Topics: Russia, World News, Ukraine, Vladimir Putin
Tom Wood