Putin’s grip on power is weaker than ever. Someone needs to tell White House - Telegraph
Russia still poses a serious threat to Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova, but geopolitically, it is weaker than at any time in recent centuries. The Kremlin regime, along with dependent Belarus, is one of the last strongholds of nineteenth-century despotism.
This is written by The Telegraph, Censor.NET informs.
The author notes that Putin and his supporters are well aware that their power could be significantly weakened if Ukraine manages to finally break free from his control and its GDP per capita begins to catch up with other Eastern European countries that have already left Russia's sphere of influence.
Despite Putin's claims that "he holds all the cards," this is largely an empty statement. With two European countries with nuclear weapons and at least four European countries with GDPs higher than Russia's, Europe is more than capable of taking responsibility for its own defense against a Russia that is still in relative geopolitical decline. Unless, of course, the United States can force it to do so.
The publication writes that the United States is now shifting its strategic focus to countering China, which is now its main geopolitical rival. Preventing a crisis in Taiwan is in everyone's interest, so this turn is also beneficial for Europe.
"Although Trump insists on redistributing the burden within NATO, he cannot afford to completely alienate European allies without undermining US strategic interests. Even if he tries, Congress is unlikely to allow him to take such radical steps as withdrawing from NATO.
In addition, as European members of the Alliance become more realistic about the need to invest in their own defense, their value as military partners of the United States is growing," the article says.
It would be unwise for the current US administration to treat Russia as a superpower and unnecessarily accept Russia's large territorial gains before peace talks even begin.
"In the coming years, Europe will probably be able to confront Russia with more confidence. When this happens, the relics of the past in Moscow, which are heavily dependent on the myth that the West is weak and in decline, may well face an increasingly difficult struggle to hold on to power
Believe it or not, Putin's grip on power is weaker than many people think. Someone needs to tell the White House that," the publication concluded.
