Vladimir putin

There are few things more dangerous than the nostalgia of old men. We see the consequences of their longing for time gone by wherever we look around the globe today. In Brazil, President Jair Bolsonaro seems to yearn for a country more like that of his youth, when he was a freshly minted artillery officer and a military junta ruled without the slightest concern for the will of the people. India’s 71-year-old prime minister, Narendra Modi , spent his youth as a member of a right-wing Hindu nationalist paramilitary organization that drew its inspiration from Italy’s National Fascist Party, and its imprint can be seen clearly as Modi has led the country throughout his tenure toward nationalism and away from democracy. Xi Jinping’s Chinese Communist Party approved a resolution late last year that framed him as one of the country’s era-defining leaders alongside the two dominant leaders of his youth, Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping . From Erdogan in Turkey to Orban in Hungary … [Read more...] about An Aging Vladimir Putin Hopes War Can Make a Sagging Empire Rise Again

11 WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said Wednesday he thinks Russia will invade Ukraine and warned President Vladimir Putin that his country would pay a “dear price” in lives lost and a possible cutoff from the global banking system if it does. Biden, speaking at a news conference to mark his one-year anniversary in office, also said a “minor incursion” by Russia would elicit a lesser response. He later sought to clarify that he was referring to a non-military action, such as a cyberattack, that would be met with a similar reciprocal response, and that if Russian forces cross the Ukrainian border, killing Ukrainian fighters, “that changes everything.” But the comments also hinted at the challenge of keeping the United States and its NATO allies united in their response to Russia. In explaining the minor incursion remark, he said “it’s very important that we keep everyone in NATO on the same page.” … [Read more...] about Biden predicts Russia will invade Ukraine, warns Putin

MSNBC “Morning Joe” host Joe Scarborough on Thursday reacted to President Joe Biden’s remarks regarding the rising tension between Ukraine and Russia. Scarborough called it a “terrible moment” for Biden because it would only exacerbate Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping seeing him as “weak.” “It was a terrible moment in the press conference when he talked about a minor incursion. There is no minor incursion. There is separation among the NATO allies and ourselves on Russia,” Scarborough outlined. “There was separation because of the way we got out of Afghanistan. So, again, here is the problem. Biden seemed as weak from Russia, China and our allies on Afghanistan. If he’s seen as being weak on Ukraine, we’ll be back here six months from now talking about that minor incursion into Taiwan. The whole world is watching. Afghanistan set a poor precedent for Joe Biden.” “Fair or not — the Biden administration will tell you for two hours they did … [Read more...] about Scarborough: Putin, Xi ‘See Joe Biden as Weak’ over Russia Statement

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on Thursday said he spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin about cooperation between the two countries. The call came a week after Russia’s chief negotiator in talks with the U.S. on tensions over Ukraine said he would “neither confirm nor exclude” the possibility of Russia sending military assets to Cuba and Venezuela if the U.S. and its allies don’t curtail their military activities on Russia’s doorstep. Maduro’s office in a statement said Putin “expressed all his multidimensional support and backing for the defense of the sovereignty and in pursuit of the development of” the South American country. The statement said the presidents spoke of the increase in commerce between both countries, the launch of air service between Venezuela’s capital, Caracas, and Moscow, and Russia’s supply of COVID-19 vaccines to Venezuelans. “We exchanged on issues related to existing cooperation in various strategic areas … [Read more...] about Maduro, Putin talk after diplomat hints at military activity

A new investigation by the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK)—a non-profit organization established by imprisoned opposition politician Alexei Navalny —has unearthed photos allegedly showing the obscenely gaudy seaside palace long rumored to belong to Russian President Vladimir Putin . The luxurious getaway , located outside the resort town of Gelendzhik on the Black Sea, reportedly boasts a casino, a private theater and a bizarre hookah lounge complete with a pole-dancing stage. Emblems of the Russian double-headed eagle symbol, the main element of the coat of arms of the Russian Empire , are omnipresent throughout the palatial estate, including in what appears to be the private dancing room. They stick out like a sore thumb, along with a stripper pole that stands in stark contrast with the image of royal opulence the palace projects. Pink and tan pillows are strewn on the floor, to provide additional relaxation in between annexations. The FBK report , which was … [Read more...] about Team Navalny Photo Leak Claims to Show Putin’s Luxury Pole-Dancing Cave

6 BERLIN (AP) — Top American and European diplomats are meeting in Berlin on Thursday as the allies seek to project a united front to Russia over concerns that it may be planning an invasion of Ukraine. Russia has massed an estimated 100,000 troops near Ukraine, and U.S. President Joe Biden said Wednesday he thinks Moscow will invade. He warned Russian President Vladimir Putin that his country would pay a “dear price” in lives lost and a possible cutoff from the global banking system if it does. Against that backdrop, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken held talks Thursday with diplomats from Germany, France and Britain — a so-called Quad meeting. A day earlier, he met Ukraine’s president in Kyiv to discuss the threat. Russia has denied it is planning an invasion and has, in turn, accused the West of plotting “provocations” in Ukraine, citing the delivery of weapons to the country by British military transport planes in recent … [Read more...] about Top US, European diplomats hold talks on Ukraine crisis