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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To wonder if Putin is serious.

128 replies

Ciaram55 · 27/02/2022 19:50

It was on channel 4 news that Putin has ordered his nuclear deterrent on high alert. But tomorrow there's supposed to be peace talks. What the hell is up with the man. I must admit to feeling even more worried now.

OP posts:
Player456 · 28/02/2022 00:34

@HelpMeHiveMind The translation shared was from the Kremlin on 24th February, it is accurate, but was not what Putin said today.

amitoooldforthisshit · 28/02/2022 00:40

The guy has dementia and is in no fit state to be a leader, then again neither is Joe Biden

FatFredsFriedEgg · 28/02/2022 00:48

He will be diagnosed as autistic, next

High-functioning though.

CatAndHisKit · 28/02/2022 00:49

@biggreenhouse

he has very little to lose now at this point.. which is a worrying position to be in.
Exactly, I'm worried that the only way for him now is to up the force / fear factor because if he pulled out now, the UN / Ukraine would demand a trial for war crimes and the world would not be quick to stop the sanctions so he'll lose money and populaity he still has with some russians - he'll never go down the road of such public defeat. For him to pull back he would need an extremely clever excuse, or more likely would have to leave the post and hide / have his circle turn on him. The fear is, he'll decide to go out in a blaze along with a big chunk of the world.

He seems to be devoid of any emotions he really isn't, not when he speaks about his vision/fantasy, much easier to see it if you understand the language. He does become stone faced and arrogant when he's having problems.

Chocolattay · 28/02/2022 00:51

@PickAChew

Borderline Personality Disorder imo 🙄

LizzieW1969 · 28/02/2022 00:52

I think he’s posturing, but I confess to not being as sure of this as I’d like to be. He’s a loose cannon and I really hope someone in his inner circle decides that enough is enough and takes him out.

veevee04 · 28/02/2022 00:59

I don't believe he means it , it's just threats ..I don't see the oligarchs of russian people wanting to go out with Vlad he will have an "accident"

callmebymyname1 · 28/02/2022 01:04

He’s definitely not right in the head

The old sandwich short of a picnic

LemonJuiceFromConcentrate · 28/02/2022 01:27

I mean, surely there are people around Putin who see themselves as his possible successors — who have perhaps been biding their time for ages — and who will now be even more highly motivated to take him down because of how incredibly grateful the entire world would then be to them?

Clutching at straws here but you know — there’s never just a void around these people, right? There are always plotters.

I suppose some of them might also be terrifying psychopaths, but at this point, I’d take the bet

PyongyangKipperbang · 28/02/2022 01:28

I was talking to a colleague at work earlier and we were both of the same mind........that the reason he has started this now instead of sooner (when the pandemic meant most countries wouldnt have been able to step up to a war footing fast enough so less opposition) was because Putin realised that Trump was actually more crazy. Even N. Korea backed down in the face of the Trump brand of insane.

Trump would have threatened the nuclear option before Putin did, and I think Putin knew that.

PyongyangKipperbang · 28/02/2022 01:30

@LemonJuiceFromConcentrate

I mean, surely there are people around Putin who see themselves as his possible successors — who have perhaps been biding their time for ages — and who will now be even more highly motivated to take him down because of how incredibly grateful the entire world would then be to them?

Clutching at straws here but you know — there’s never just a void around these people, right? There are always plotters.

I suppose some of them might also be terrifying psychopaths, but at this point, I’d take the bet

I was thinking this. The person who puts a bullet through Putins head will be an international hero, never mind that they would be doing it to steal his throne.
Zotter · 28/02/2022 02:27

Not comfortable reading

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-60551140

Createakbit · 28/02/2022 02:32

@Zotter,that is a chilling read.

Chocolattay · 28/02/2022 02:35

I do agree it is very very likely that somebody will take one for the team and off him before he is able to send the nukes.

Chocolattay · 28/02/2022 02:40

Best case scenario is Putin gets very close (getting the world to collectively shit itself) but is assassinated in time. Russia maybe then gets a sane leader and after the scare the world unanimously agrees to get rid of all nuclear weapons.

I can dream.

Chocolattay · 28/02/2022 02:41

Second best case would be the status quo in regards to nuclear weapons I suppose

JangolinaPitt · 28/02/2022 03:16

@Chocolattay

I do agree it is very very likely that somebody will take one for the team and off him before he is able to send the nukes.
There is hope for a brace someone, as we have seen from those heroic Snake Island people.
Pyewhacket · 28/02/2022 03:31

He’s reinforcing his attack in several areas and this is a deliberate move to stop us intervening before significant high tech munitions are in Ukraine hands, Stinger and Javelin missiles.

jm901928 · 28/02/2022 04:27

If the US also increase their alert level (which apparently hasn’t happened yet), then the chances for mistakes/misinterepation of events are greater.

Who knows what the US and Russias nuclear strategy is now a days, but it used to be obliterate the enemy with as many warheads as possible, and be the first to do it.

In a situation where both Russia and the US are at a high level of readiness, it’s like two people pointing loaded guns at other with their fingers on the trigger.

It doesn’t mean it will happen, but those saying it’s absolutely nothing to worry about don’t know what they’re talking about.

FreyaMaya · 28/02/2022 05:06

@Punching

Why would he nuke anywhere? He’ll have seen WarGames too.

He knows perfectly well that sending a bomb is agreeing to receive five or ten bombs.

If he knows he's on his way out, why would he care about taking us all out with him? He is a raging fucking lunatic
Keepyourheadscrewedon · 28/02/2022 05:24

Putin is losing the war, this is a disaster for his ego and this is his reaction.

He will now try and strong arm Ukraine into agreeing unacceptable terms in the 'talks' so that he can save face, meanwhile trying to terrify the world with nuclear threats. I believe he has already gone too far. Overplayed his hand with a full invasion, and then again by doubling down. There appears to be no strategy in place whatsoever now for the war or next steps which is surprising for someone so calculating. Was he so arrogant to think he would never be in this position, a quick easy win in Ukraine and then he holds all the cards was expected, it appears he did not plan for the alternative hence the desperate threats.

I am more worried than ever for Ukraine.

Keepyourheadscrewedon · 28/02/2022 05:26

I agree with pp the risk of a miscalculation now means it is a very dangerous place to be, if the US are on high alert now I very much hope they don't make it public.

ClaudineClare · 28/02/2022 05:38

Defcon levels aren't made public. There are loads of sites which speculate what it might be, though.

ClaudineClare · 28/02/2022 05:42

Although they may be made public once a crisis is over. For example I have read that the USA's defcon level has been at 2 a couple of times, such as during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Maybe that is just conjecture though.