It's important for us to remember that Putin feels that the end of the communist Soviet Union was a great world tragedy. He isn't the only one who feels that way.
I have learned to accept that there are many people (even some people here in the U.S.) who don't share my view that the USSR was a scar on human history. They miss the USSR and they miss the world communist movement. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that some of these folks still have pictures of Stalin hanging over their beds.
They don't yet want to accept that Putin is nothing more than a Stalin wannabe and that he isn't even fit to shine Stalin's shoes. He's a loser who is (for now) supported by Russian gangsters.
I agree. For instance, if you read the post of some of the small minded types (like some I’ve seen on this thread) you sense their longing for a renewed Soviet type empire to punish America. They’re really much like the leftist who wanted communism to succeed and to punish the USA. Now, they want Putinism to do it. They make absolutely breathtakingly grandiose claims about the former KGB scum Putin, second generation communist secret policeman, as if everyone is as ignorant of Soviet history as they are. I would say some of these people are like a catamite in a prison keen to suck up to the bully. And it hurts them to hear the bully Putin insulted. They’re like the Obamarobots who cannot accept that Obama is a fool and we can say so.