American historian Timothy Snyder says Putin is "losing control"
Putin's entourage is preparing for a war for power.
The regime of Vladimir Putin has cracked, and in Moscow his entourage has already begun a struggle for power. Yale University history professor Timothy Snyder stated this, Newsweek writes.
The American historian noted that the signs that the head of the Kremlin is "losing control" are the statements of some Russian officials. in particular, the expert drew attention to Dmitry Medvedev's statements about the consequences of "attacks on Russia" supposedly awaiting Ukraine and the West.
Medvedev is a staunch ally of Putin, who once briefly replaced him as president. He recently stated that a Western response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine could lead to the Ukrainian state “losing the remnants of sovereignty and disappearing from the map of the world.
Typically, news coverage of such statements focuses on the content. It is very easy to succumb to the Russian propaganda of fear. But the real story is that people around Putin now feel they are allowed to make such statements. Before the war, this was less , - said Snyder.
Snyder agreed that with these words Medvedev wanted to show loyalty to the leader, but the American historian insists that his words indicate an internal political struggle and that Medvedev is already preparing an image for himself that will benefit him after "Putin's fall."
If Russia is defeated in the war, the people who are now saying radical things will protect themselves. For my part, I tend to see tough language as proof that powerful Russians see Russia losing ,” Snyder said.
Snyder added that Medvedev himself has little faith in what he says.
According to Snyder, Putin is considered weak by his own circle because his army cannot achieve its goals in Ukraine.
Timothy David Snyder (born September 18, 1969) is an American historian. Professor at Yale University. Specialist in the history of Eastern Europe and, in particular, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania, Poland and Russia of modern times. Explores the problems of nationalism, totalitarianism and the Holocaust. Member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Fluent in Polish, Czech, Slovak, Ukrainian, Russian, Belarusian, German, French and English.