Is Putin Sick. - Although illness is a poor explanation for Vladimir Putin's misdeeds so far, it may be indicative of the future (Getty Images)
Smoke is falling in the skies of Europe. Most of the uprisings came from the dusty cities of Ukraine, which were destroyed by Russian artillery. Others, however, are concerned about the endless swirl of rumors about Vladimir Putin's health. If there is smoke, must fire follow? What is gained by speculating on the dictator's health? What will his happiness say about his decision to invade Ukraine and then go to war? And what can this reveal about our beliefs?
Is Putin Sick.
Whispers today have two sources. The first is the sudden change in Putin's appearance. Until five years ago, his face was pale and red: past his best, but still suitable for appearing in photographs that show his absolute machismo. This year's photos tell a different story: Putin's face is now much scarred. The second is the meeting between the President of Russia and the Minister of Defense of Russia Sergei Shoigu on April 21. The footage, which has been analyzed as if it were a missing Zapruder tape, appears to show Putin holding the table in an apparent attempt to remain upright.
Is Putin Really Ill? Expert Says He Is Probably 'a Hypochondriac'
Some believe that Putin's physical transformation is the result of an overindulgence in fillers or botox, perhaps inspired by his friend Silvio Berlusconi. Some argue that this is just a normal aging process for a man who is now 70 years old. But of course the loudest voices are those who believe that Putin is seriously ill.
According to Newsweek's special report, American intelligence concluded that Putin was being treated for advanced cancer in April. His health is apparently the subject of active debate within the Biden administration. The students at the Shoygu meeting were convinced that Putin has Parkinson's disease. An anonymous FSB official claimed that Putin had aggressive liver cancer and only three years to live. The head of Ukraine's National Defense Intelligence Agency, Kyrylo Budanov, on the other hand, beat them all, saying that Putin actually
Many argue that Putin's decision to invade is a sign of illness. For nearly 100 days, the war has come at a catastrophic cost - in blood, wealth and glory - surely that can only be the product of a sick mind, or one that no longer cares about the future? Maybe. But the Kremlin's strategic blunders are better explained by the fact that Putin has built a regime in which reckless and fearless advice is a career move, and the stakes are at the forefront.
In fact, it is impossible to make a firm judgment about Putin's health because there is no reliable intelligence about the Kremlin. Remember that most credible analysts vastly overestimated Russia's military power before the invasion of Ukraine. Before that, key details about Putin's private life and regime were under wraps. Journalists and dissidents who tried to shed light on the regime's internal affairs were killed with impunity. Any reliable intelligence that remains has largely been leaked as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and Russia's diplomatic isolation since the February 24 invasion.
Is Vladimir Putin Ill?
But serious analysts, regardless of their proximity to power, still need to prepare for a scenario where Putin becomes ill. Why? Because even if this disease is a poor explanation for the mistakes Putin has made so far, it may predict the future.
In the near term, Kyiv and its allies cannot rule out the possibility that an ailing Putin will continue to make irrational decisions. Perhaps he would be more indifferent to the loss of Russian and Ukrainian lives. Or, knowing that he will no longer live in the future world, he may ignore the conventional principles governing the use of nuclear weapons. It's hard to deal with a crazy person - or a sick person with nothing to lose.
Going forward, temporarily accepting the assumption that Putin is indeed ill will help the West prepare for the political repercussions that his death will cause in Russia. Whether Putin dies in six months, three years, or remains alive and in power for another decade has a huge impact on the kind of country Russia will be in for a generation. The earlier he died, the greater the gap between the military results in Ukraine and the political results at home. The longer he stays, the more likely it is to strengthen his despotic political order, continue to isolate Russia from the West, and seek unlikely allies.
Simply put, many people want Vladimir Putin dead. In part, this comes from an understandable desire for revenge. But this desire reflects our understanding or our influence on how the war he started will end.
Is Vladimir Putin Suffering From A Serious Illness?
Putin's health is a key factor in how the war goes. Whether it is delivered by an assassin's bullet or by his Creator, his death will cause joy and chaos in almost equal measure. Meanwhile, just as we must guard against misinformation regardless of its source, we must also be wary of wishful thinking and motivated thinking. Attention anyone who moves easily from amateur epidemiology, to geopolitics, to remote oncology. There is increasing unconfirmed media speculation that Russian President Vladimir Putin may be in ill health [File: Majid Asgaripour/Reuters]
Vladimir Putin is in good health, the Kremlin said, denying rumors that the Russian president had fallen ill after canceling his trip abroad.
Earlier, a Kazakh government source said Putin's trip to Nur-Sultan, scheduled for this week, had been canceled because Putin had fallen ill, sparking speculation on social media that the 69-year-old leader would not recover.
But on Thursday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in response to a question at his daily briefing, "Everything is fine with his health."
Talk Of Vladimir Putin's Ill Health Is 'just A Rumour'
"You know that Ukrainian, and American and British intelligence experts, in recent months, have refuted various lies about the state of the president's health - these are nothing but fakes," he added.
Russian politics, in the Soviet era and beyond, has traditionally been fertile ground for gossip because of the secrecy surrounding leaders, especially their health.
On Wednesday, Putin was due to meet with a delegation of officials from the breakaway Georgian region of South Ossetia.
"They didn't fly," said an official familiar with the arrangements. "They left in the morning but didn't get on the plane because they were told he had sent it."
Five Reasons To Suggest 'puffy Faced' Putin Could Be Seriously Ill
Putin was seen in Iran on Tuesday, but met with his Turkish and Iranian counterparts to discuss Syria.
On Wednesday, he coughed during a public appearance; The Interfax agency said that he fell ill during his visit to Iran.
"Yesterday it was very hot in Tehran, more than 38 degrees, and the weather was very strong there. That's why I apologize," Putin said.
Putin's health has been at the center of Russia's war against Ukraine this year, with many Western media outlets speculating that he may be suffering from cancer or Parkinson's disease.
Scheduling Changes Prompt Questions About Vladimir V. Putin's Health
But the director of the CIA, William Burns, said there was no evidence to support these assumptions.
"There are a lot of rumors about President Putin's health and as far as we can tell he is perfectly healthy," Burns said Wednesday at the Aspen Security Forum in Colorado.
Lavrov said in an interview published by state news agency RIA Novosti on Wednesday that while Russia and Ukraine discussed a possible agreement to end the war, "our readiness to accept Ukraine's proposal based on the March geography 2022".
"Now the geography is different. This is not only about DPR and LNR," Lavrov said, referring to the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, Russian-backed entities in eastern Ukraine.
Putin To Die From 'grave' Illness Within Two Years: Ukraine Gen. Budanov
His comments came after the United States suggested Moscow was preparing to formally annex territory it seized from neighboring Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the construction site of the National Space Center in Moscow on February 27 Credit: AFP
It's all circumstantial but there is mounting evidence that Vladimir Putin may be suffering from a serious illness.
At least five reasons suggest that his terrible decision to invade Ukraine may not be based on his mental state, the effects of Covid isolation, or enthusiasm, but on a physical condition that allows him to gamble on a quick victory.
Side effects of steroids include an increased risk of infection, such as coughs and colds, and "mood and behavior changes."
How Kremlin Tightly Controls Ailing Putin To Hide Ill Health
"Sometimes, when taken in high doses, steroids can cause confusion or changes in thinking," according to Macmillan Cancer Support. "This may involve strange or frightening thoughts."
In November 2020, Mr. Putin suffered a prolonged cough during a televised meeting with his finance minister. The footage was later edited and the Kremlin said it was "totally fine".
According to Fiona Hill, a former senior British White House expert on Russia, Mr Putin is "not looking too good right now".
Ms Hill, who has met Putin on more than one occasion, said: "He's a bit cheeky. We know he's complaining about back problems. On steroids, or
Putin's Health Worsens: He Has Constant Coughing Fits And Nausea
Where is putin today, putin sick, what religion is putin, how tall is putin, where is putin now, putin is antichrist, is putin in trouble, is putin still alive, is putin dead, how old is putin, putin is back, is putin
0 Comments