If it weren't for Putin we'd already be fighting WW3 "individual".

I think you are right Individual, Putin is a good business man, not an ideologue, who knows war is not good business for most. He will only fight if he is left no option. Her's making too much money winning the peace.

Hasbeen,

So you think Putin is a "good businessman?"
And that it's because of him that we won't have WWIII.

It's because of him that we're on the brink of WWIII.

" In a country where over 20 million people can barely
make ends meet, the luxurious lifestyle of the
president is a brazen and cynical challenge from a
high-handed potentate." said Nemstov, a longtime
and vocal critic of Putin.

He was assassinated in 2015.

You seemingly misunderstand Foxy.

Nowhere did I say he was a nice man, I said he was a good business man. Neither did I say the 2 were compatible. I don't know if he is any worse for his population than Biden, who has made life much worse for the lowest paid American, through ideology, his or his minders, & the same could be said for Boris.

Putin inherited a total cot case caused by communism/socialism, & has made some extremely wealthy, but has also improved the life of the bottom end, just look at vodka sales, where as bidden took over & thriving economy & is progressively destroying it.

Putin is making himself & many Russians rich, & most better off with his gas industry, where as Boris & other Europeans are beholden to him for heating & cooking, while refusing to harvest their own gas.

Stupidity is alive & well in the UK & Europe, less so in Russia. Europe can't go to war with Russia, at least until summer when they won't require heat or electricity just to stay alive.

Hasbeen,

The Guardian has done some great articles on
Putin. Too long to go into here. However all in all
Putin is painted as "an unscrupulous and resourceful
operator, ready to deploy any weapon, break any rule,
and subvert any system to consolidate his power,
wealth, and international prestige."

He's appointed his own men into positions of power.
He has their full support.

There's a great book - "Putin's People: How the KGB
took back Russia and then took on the West," by
Catherine Belton which has received rave reviews and
apparently is "a fearless account of the emergence of
the Putin regime. It sheds a light on the current
threats posed by Russian money and influence."

It might be useful to get a hold of a copy.

I have just opened a book bought well before the current Russia/Ukraine business; and on the introductory page, Ukraine is mentioned. The author writes that Putin says that he is a religious man, and a great supporter of the Russian Orthodox Church. If this is so, the author suggests that in his nightly prayers he might ask God why he didn’t put mountains in Ukraine.

Had there been mountains in Ukraine, the great expanse of flat land that is called the North European Plain would not be such encouraging territory from which to "attack Russia repeatedly" - since 2014.

How does this fit the big bad Russian narrative?

It's all to do with keeping up appearances.
Which is something our own politicians are
so good at - until they're caught out that is.
The difference being in Russia if you're a
whistle-blower - you end up being either
assassinated or you disappear.