{"id":752,"date":"2025-08-08T11:47:06","date_gmt":"2025-08-08T11:47:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sterlingcooper.info\/blog\/?p=752"},"modified":"2025-08-08T11:47:06","modified_gmt":"2025-08-08T11:47:06","slug":"putin-vlad-is-destroying-russias-and-ukraines-men-needlessly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sterlingcooper.info\/blog\/putin-vlad-is-destroying-russias-and-ukraines-men-needlessly\/","title":{"rendered":"PUTIN (VLAD) IS DESTROYING RUSSIA’S AND UKRAINE’S MEN NEEDLESSLY!"},"content":{"rendered":"

The epically blundering Putin is alienating even Trump<\/h1>\n

The invasion of Ukraine has been a disaster.<\/p>\n

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Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a military parade in St. Petersburg in 2021. (Mikhail Svetlov\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<\/div>\n

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President Donald Trump has announced himself \u201cdisappointed.\u201d<\/a> He had such high hopes for Vladimir Putin.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Putin\u2019s response to Trump\u2019s 50-day ultimatum<\/a> \u2014 to agree to \u201ca deal\u201d by Sept. 3 or face severe economic consequences \u2014 was intensified attacks on Ukraine\u2019s population centers. Trump\u2019s subsequent 10-day ultimatum, expiring Friday<\/a>, seems to have been equally unavailing. Putin aims to get not to negotiations but to Kyiv, because only extinguishing Ukraine\u2019s nationhood can redeem his epochal blunder.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n

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Although Putin has been certified a \u201cgenius\u201d (by Trump<\/a>; Putin has not reciprocated), not since Adolf Hitler invaded the Soviet Union<\/a> 84 summers ago has a military undertaking been as comprehensively counterproductive for its initiator as Putin\u2019s invasion of Ukraine. The results so far:NATO, the bane of Putin\u2019s existence, has been enlarged, with the addition of Sweden and Finland making the alliance contiguous with an additional 800 miles<\/a> of Russia\u2019s border. NATO members, awakened from their slumbers, have committed to spending 3.5 percent of gross domestic product<\/a> on defense. Lord Hastings Lionel Ismay, NATO\u2019s first secretary general, famously said the alliance<\/a> was created in 1949 to \u201ckeep the Soviet Union out, the Americans in, and the Germans down.\u201d The Soviet Union is gone, American forces are still in Europe, and Germany is rising militarily. With the European Union\u2019s largest economy<\/a> and a GDP more than twice as large as Russia\u2019s, Germany now has a defense budget larger than Britain\u2019s, and it soon could be twice as large<\/a>. One small expenditure underscores Putin\u2019s big miscalculation: A German brigade (4,800 troops<\/a> by the end of 2027) is stationed in Lithuania, on Putin\u2019s border.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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<\/div>\n
Opinions on Vladimir Putin<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Opinion<\/span><\/p>\n
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George F. Will<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\"Putin<\/p>\n
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Putin is an open book. U.S. leaders have refused to read it.<\/span><\/p>\n
June 6, 2025<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Opinion<\/span><\/p>\n
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George F. Will<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\"Behold,<\/p>\n
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Behold, the artful dealmaker Trump working his magic on Putin<\/span><\/p>\n
May 7, 2025<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Opinion<\/span><\/p>\n
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David Ignatius<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\"A<\/p>\n
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A week in the life of Vladimir Putin<\/span><\/p>\n
December 5, 2022<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Opinion<\/span><\/p>\n
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Mikhail Khodorkovsky<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\"A<\/p>\n
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A warning to the West: Appease Putin, and you will lose your freedom<\/span><\/p>\n
December 21, 2023<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Opinion<\/span><\/p>\n
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Svetlana Tikhanovskaya<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\"For<\/p>\n
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For democracy to return to Belarus, it will need U.S. help<\/span><\/p>\n
December 4, 2023<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Opinion<\/span><\/p>\n
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Lee Hockstader<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\"For<\/p>\n
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For Putin, a very good October<\/span><\/p>\n
November 2, 2023<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Opinion<\/span><\/p>\n
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Hugh Hewitt<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\"Here\u2019s<\/p>\n
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Here\u2019s one big reason (among many) for continued U.S. support of Ukraine<\/span><\/p>\n
October 8, 2023<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Opinion<\/span><\/p>\n
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Hugh Hewitt<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\"Given<\/p>\n
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Given his barbarity so far, what if a vengeful Putin wins in Ukraine?<\/span><\/p>\n
July 12, 2023<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Opinion<\/span><\/p>\n
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Michael Ramirez<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\"Stabbed<\/p>\n
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Stabbed in the back<\/span><\/p>\n
June 26, 2023<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Opinion<\/span><\/p>\n
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Editorial Board<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\"Putin\u2019s<\/p>\n
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Putin\u2019s humiliation means new dangers for Russia \u2014 and the world<\/span><\/p>\n
June 25, 2023<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Opinion<\/span><\/p>\n
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David Ignatius<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\"Putin<\/p>\n
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Putin looked into the abyss Saturday \u2014 and blinked<\/span><\/p>\n
June 24, 2023<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Opinion<\/span><\/p>\n
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Max Boot<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\"Putin<\/p>\n
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Putin finally learns the lesson all tyrants learn<\/span><\/p>\n
June 24, 2023<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Opinion<\/span><\/p>\n
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Vladimir Kara-Murza<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\"Vladimir<\/p>\n
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Vladimir Putin\u2019s war on Ukraine makes a mockery of law<\/span><\/p>\n
July 31, 2023<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Opinion<\/span><\/p>\n
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Josh Rogin<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\"The<\/p>\n
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The survivors of Putin\u2019s atrocities have a warning for us<\/span><\/p>\n
May 17, 2023<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Opinion<\/span><\/p>\n
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Anna Nemtsova<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\"I\u2019ve<\/p>\n
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I\u2019ve never seen the Kremlin so rattled<\/span><\/p>\n
May 17, 2023<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Opinion<\/span><\/p>\n
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Natan Sharansky<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\"Why<\/p>\n
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Why Putin\u2019s repression is worse than what I endured under the Soviets<\/span><\/p>\n
May 8, 2023<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Opinion<\/span><\/p>\n
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Ann Telnaes<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\"How<\/p>\n
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How Vladimir Putin deals with his critics<\/span><\/p>\n
April 17, 2023<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Opinion<\/span><\/p>\n
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Max Boot<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\"Russia\u2019s<\/p>\n
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Russia\u2019s population crisis is making Putin more dangerous<\/span><\/p>\n
March 14, 2023<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Opinion<\/span><\/p>\n
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Vladimir Kara-Murza<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\"Putin<\/p>\n
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Putin is planning a Soviet-style punishment for his critics<\/span><\/p>\n
March 13, 2023<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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A study by the Center for Strategic and International Studies<\/a> estimates that Russia has suffered nearly 1 million troops killed or wounded<\/a> as the price of seizing about one-fifth of Ukraine\u2019s territory. (Ukraine\u2019s dead and wounded are estimated to be 400,000.) Putin instructed his invading troops, who were given only five days\u2019 provisions, to pack their dress uniforms<\/a> for a victory parade in Kyiv. Three years later, Russia has resorted to its first conscription since World War II, and has enlisted felons and debtors.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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A recent Wall Street Journal article<\/a> told of a Russian soldier who joined the army when the enlistment bonus reached 2 million rubles, 22 times his monthly salary. Three weeks later<\/i>, after two weeks of shooting practice and basic first-aid instruction, he was on the front lines in Ukraine, fighting Europe\u2019s \u2014 actually, the world\u2019s \u2014 most combat-seasoned army. Five months ago, a report from the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence declared that Russia had the \u201cupper hand\u201d<\/a> in Ukraine. Remember, however, that when the war began, U.S. intelligence was as pessimistic as Putin was optimistic. Ukraine\u2019s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, had to spurn a U.S. offer to fly him to safety. He reportedly said<\/a>, \u201cI need ammunition, not a ride.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The most important consequence of Putin\u2019s war has been to awaken the United States to how unprepared its defense industrial base<\/a> is to produce the munitions, from artillery shells to missiles, required for protracted, high-intensity combat. Hence the limited relevance to U.S. overall security of the B-2 bombers\u2019 impressive power projection against Iran.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cThe history of failure in war,\u201d said Gen. Douglas MacArthur<\/a>, \u201ccan almost always be summed up in two words: \u2018Too late.\u2019 Too late in comprehending the deadly purpose of a potential enemy. Too late in realizing the mortal danger. Too late in preparedness. Too late in uniting all possible forces for resistance.\u201d Because of the European and U.S. blowback against Putin\u2019s blunder, it is not too late to win the war by preserving Ukraine. Defeat is not an inevitability; it would be a choice.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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In February, as Russia\u2019s aggression entered its fourth year, Trump, who has said<\/a> Ukraine \u201cstarted\u201d the war, resisted including<\/a> in a Group of Seven statement the fact that Russia was the aggressor. He has compared Europe\u2019s largest war since 1945 to \u201ctwo young children fighting like crazy<\/a>,\u201d and to a hockey game in which the referees allow the players to brawl for a while.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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But, having slight ballast of convictions, he moves where winds, whims and whisperers take him. Putin\u2019s culminating blunder \u2014 he has disappointed<\/i> the president \u2014 might drive Trump to Ukraine\u2019s side. This will unleash fury in MAGAdom\u2019s MAGABMIMLH faction (Make America Great Again By Making It More Like Hungary). But to govern is to choose, which always makes some factions unhappy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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In this instance, it might be good that Trump takes everything<\/i> personally. This is the importance of his being disappointed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The epically blundering Putin is alienating even Trump The invasion of Ukraine has been a disaster. Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a military parade in St. Petersburg in 2021. (Mikhail Svetlov\/Getty Images) President Donald Trump has announced himself \u201cdisappointed.\u201d He had such high hopes for Vladimir Putin. Putin\u2019s response to Trump\u2019s 50-day ultimatum \u2014 to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-752","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-government"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sterlingcooper.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/752","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sterlingcooper.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sterlingcooper.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sterlingcooper.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sterlingcooper.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=752"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.sterlingcooper.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/752\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":754,"href":"https:\/\/www.sterlingcooper.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/752\/revisions\/754"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sterlingcooper.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=752"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sterlingcooper.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=752"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sterlingcooper.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=752"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}