Putin Invaded Ukraine to Avoid Having to Keep His Promises to Russian People, Some Say

Paul Goble

            Staunton, June 12 – Analysts around the world are devoting enormous efforts to explaining why Putin chose to invade Ukraine when and how he did, efforts that are growing in size as the costs to his country and his government continue to rise. But the explanation, many Russians now say is simple: he did it to avoid having to keep his promises to them.

            By going to war, Putin has created a situation in which no one can reasonably expect that he will keep his promises, according to a new anecdote circulating in Russia. Judging from his track record, he wasn’t going to do so anyway, but with the war in Ukraine, many will not be as angry as they would otherwise be.

            That is just one of the new Russian anecdotes Moscow journalist Tatyana Pushkaryova offers up in her latest collection (publizist.ru/blogs/107374/43275/-). Among the best of the rest are the following:

·       Russia is a surprising country. It is quite possibly the only place on earth where words like democracy and freedom are curse words rather than something to be aspired to and treasured.

 ·       Over the next few years, Russia will be left without any civilian aircraft. That is good on two counts: On the one hand, air travel is stressful and Russians will no longer have to be subject to it. And on the other, the end of civilian air travel will significantly reduce the emission of harmful gases and make Russia the leader of the worldwide green movement.

·       Because Russia doesn’t produce materials for filling teeth and can’t be sure that anyone else will be willing to sell them given Western sanctions, there is a real danger that Russians will not be able to maintain their teeth in the coming years. But that may be all right as far as the Kremlin is concerned. Toothless Russians won’t demand meat as they wouldn’t be able to eat it if it were available.

 ·       Everyone knows that Patriarch Kirill will support any crimes the Kremlin commits. What no one seems t know is whether his god is Jesus Christ or Vladimir Putin.

 ·       Moscow plans to use ultra-precise missiles to take out Western leaders as the best way to get their countries to end sanctions and negotiate with the Kremlin. The Russian powers that be obviously no longer care not only about their reputations but also about whether they understand logic at all.