To be able to anticipate Putin's next move it helps to know how he was trained as a young man.
Putin was born on October 7, 1952. He studied Law and graduated at Leningrad Univerity in 1980. He was later selected for training by the KGB and then spent 5 years (1985 - 1990) in East Germany working as an intelligence officer for them.
Putin was in Berlin when "the Wall" was breached on November 9, 1989 ! This liberated Eastern Germany from Russian domination ! Gorbachev was then the President of Russia but could not stop the sudden surge to Independence by numerous Russian satellite countries, many of which, within a few years, joined the EU and some even adopted the EURO as their currency !
After the USSR was dissolved in 1991 Yeltsin became the Leader of Russia. In 1999 he was losing control and he invited Putin to become Prime Minister. Russia was on its knees and when Putin was elected President he vowed to restore Russia's place in the World. He said he wanted Democracy and Prosperity for the People !
Alas, current reports indicate there is mounting dissatisfaction particularly on the economic front !
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With hindsight one can now say he yearns for the old Totalitarian style of Government enjoyed by Stalin. He can no longer recover the Satellite countries already in the EU, but he did manage to prevent Ukraine also joining.
Putin has temporarily recovered Crimea which helps to protect the Russian Fleet which is stationed in the Black Sea. What he still desires is a "land corridor" in the South of Ukraine, from Russia to Crimea !
He always staunchly denies he is arming the Russian Rebels in Eastern Ukraine in spite of photographic evidence, or that there are Russian Soldiers in Ukraine ! He says they are "Volunteers" !
It would be interesting to know how these soldiers are paid, because they certainly have dependent families in Russia !
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