Explain Like I'm Five: Putin and Russia

[LambriniBobinIsleworth]

I know that there are lots of knowledge people here, so I'm looking for help in understanding all of this.

I did revolutionary Russia for history A Level about 800 years ago... I know basically what the Cold War was about... I know the Wikipedia outline of who Putin is.... I know basically why Russia invaded Ukraine...but with the death of Nevalny this week I need the whole sorry shit show of Russia explained to me like I'm five because I'm lost.

Most of all I'm confused about how post the collapse of the Soviet Union Russia did have a democratically elected government, and that Putin was originally democratically elected but then stopped having proper democratic elections circa 2003 (is that right?) What happened there to stop the elections being free and fair? And I read somewhere this weekend that another opposition leader died in 2015- shot after speaking out against the beginnings of the Ukraine war.

I did read a lot when the war started in 2022 but if I understood it all I've forgotten it again. Also why is Trump being called out for saying he will support Russia with this NATO stuff? What's going on there, why is he saying he will do that?

I know I sound really stupid, but I'm so confused about all of the various elements of this and putting them together like a jigsaw. I'd appreciate anything anyone can explain to me (in the simplest way possible). Thanks all!

what did you get in your a level history?

Are you really asking why Trump is being called out for saying he will support Russia “with this NATO stuff”? I would have thought that was self-explanatory 😐

Try newsround.
It's aimed at kids so I pick up alot of my information from them when I don't understand grown up things

Some unkind responses here.

Some very unkind responses here! I would also find it extremely useful to have some simple pointers on what's going on. I read the news and listen to background programmes on Radio 4, but there's so much detail that it isn't sticking.

Re Trump, I imagine the OP is perplexed why a past and (god help us) potential future US president would appear to want to leave Ukraine to its fate, cut funding for NATO and IIRC even potentially leave NATO. I don't know that he's explicitly pro-Putin, but he's not far off. I find this inexplicable, but then much of US politics is inexplicable to me.

The constitution was changed so he can be President as many times as he likes. The state has control over most media. Anti-terrorism laws are used to arrest opponents of the regime.

God mumsnetters are acting like a bunch of cunts today

No idea OP but interested to see when someone who isn’t a dick comes along.

Its always been the best thing about MN, a wide group of informative, intelligent, funny women

WRT the Trump/NATO issue, the idea of NATO is that if any one member is attacked, the rest of NATO will come to their defence. So if Russia invaded Germany, the other members (including USA) should help them.

All NATO members are supposed to spend at least 2% of their GDP on defence. Some members are not doing this. Trump (and lots of Americans) feels that these countries are underspending because they expect the US to protect them. I don't think that he would really encourage Russia to do what they like, but he's threatening to wash his hands of underspending NATO members until they meet their 2% commitments.

The Kremlin has gradually taken control of the media, they've stifled opposition, made changes to the electoral system, committed election fraud, made constitutional amendments to change his term limits...just basically changed the rules of the game and degraded democracy

Trump is essentially an isolationist, wants to keep the US out of conflicts although I'm sure he'll keep funding Israel if he gets in.

It's a big investment of time, but I did listen to this last year. (As I said above, the detail hasn't stuck, so I think I'll listen again.) https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0015nfc

Someone tries to expand their knowledge and understanding and you sneer at them?@Firstnews24 @WinterMorn @Mydpisgrumpierthanyours Twats.

yy, Newsround is so good for things like this. I often check it to get the basics on a story.

@LambriniBobinIsleworth sadly Russia was only in the infancy of democracy when Putin got in. Putin felt that the move to democracy and the break up of the Soviet Union was an appalling travesty and he wants it reversed. Tragically once a man with the will to become a dictator gets into power in a fledgling democracy it’s relatively straightforward to turn it back to a dictatorship if you’re prepared to be as brutal as Putin is.

Trump is ultimately cut from the same cloth as Putin - he admires his ability to do what he wants and while Trump has joked about wanting to be a dictator I fear that, should he win power again, this is exactly what he will aim for. The US is a much more stable democracy but who knows what’s possible with the unwavering devotion his supporters have for him. 🙁

really I don't think mydp was being rude. Newsround is genuinely useful for this stuff.

This (in two parts) explains how the oligarchs took over after communism fell and then how Putin came to rule over them.

https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2022/03/22/1087654279/how-shock-therapy-created-russian-oligarchs-and-paved-the-path-for-putin

https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2022/03/29/1088886554/how-putin-conquered-russias-oligarchy

OP, this is not a stupid question, the whole situation is a bugger’s muddle that doesn’t make any sense to anyone with normal intelligence who isn’t a psychopath.

Re Trump, I imagine the OP is perplexed why a past and (god help us) potential future US president would appear to want to leave Ukraine to its fate, cut funding for NATO and IIRC even potentially leave NATO. I don't know that he's explicitly pro-Putin, but he's not far off. I find this inexplicable, but then much of US politics is inexplicable to me.

Also totally understandable that this doesn’t make sense. Trump acts as though he’s a Russian agent. How he’s the choice of the conservative Republican redneck is a complete baffler. A generation back,anyone giving quarter to the ‘Russkies’ would have no chance in a Presidential election. It would have been seen as profoundly unpatriotic. How things have changed.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/60521909

The Newsround bit is here - a little bit too sitting on the fence for me but might give some background!

I genuinely apologise if that is the case, it was the reference to "grown up things" that made me think they were sneering.

Agreed, it adds nothing to a thread. If you're not interested in a thread then you can just leave it. OP I am probably more up on current affairs than the average person but I too have lots of questions about the situation and would love to understand more.

Some examples of how Putin deals with criticism

https://apnews.com/article/russia-crackdown-protest-putin-ukraine-dissent-f0006697d93d3d0553c5ccec5abbdd0f

To be fair @Reallybadidea the OP does ask to have it explained as to a 5 year old.
Therefore it invites simple responses. The simplest of which is : Putin is a bad man. Very bad.

Obviously that needs expanding and trusted information put out for children isn't a bad place to start. Hence Newsround. Build up from there.

The Rest Is History series on Putin from early 2022 isn't bad - the style may not be to everyone's taste, but give it a go and you might find it helpful.
This is the first episode.
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-rest-is-history/id1537788786?i=1000553113993

Not at all. This info is all very easily accessible and this situation has been going on for years, not to mention the fact it’s been the leading news item for several days this week. Plus, labelling people “twats” doesn’t really add much to your argument does it? The amount of people who have buried their head in the sand over this critical issue is staggering.

Hi OP (and everyone else),

I can really recommend 'Ross Atkins on...' via the BBC website and YouTube.

He's a journalist that works predominantly for the BBC and he does short (5 mins or so) videos breaking down that the craic is with a particular news story, for example the war on Ukraine, the court case against Trump etc. He's very knowledgeable and he outlines the key points of why what is happening is happening in a clear, concise manner. Check him out and it should be very helpful.