Inaction in Ukraine threatens Putin’s image at home

The Washington Times ^ | July 7, 2014 | Marc Bennetts

[McGruff]

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s failure to come to the rescue of beleaguered pro-Moscow rebels in east Ukraine threatens to both shatter his image as a strongman leader and foment dangerous domestic discontent among nationalist groups, his supporters have warned.

“We support Putin because he is strong,” Alexander Dugin, an ultranationalist thinker whose ideas are reported to have influenced recent Kremlin policy, told The Washington Times. “But many people feel cheated by his refusal to use military force [in east Ukraine]. Russian patriots are close to turning away from Putin.”

The comments came as Ukrainian forces recaptured the key city of Slavyansk over the weekend, forcing separatist fighters to make what they described as a “tactical retreat” to the regional capital of Donetsk — setting up a showdown between rebels and government forces.

[McGruff]

I have to agree. Seems to me like he's waited to long to intervene. But he's a pretty good chess player. Maybe he has a few more moves up his sleeve.

[dmz]

I have to agree. Seems to me like he’s waited to long to intervene. But he’s a pretty good chess player. Maybe he has a few more moves up his sleeve.

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You sound disappointed. But hopeful that he can continue to destabilize the region.

[dirtboy]

Yeah, Putin buttboys like you must be very disappointed that he is not trying to take another bite out of Ukraine.

[McGruff]

Glory to Ukraine