Earlier “goodwill gestures” only resulted in making a fool out of Russia even though that wasn’t the Kremlin’s intent. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced on Monday that “The Grain Deal has been stopped. As soon as its Russian part is implemented, the Russian side will immediately return to the implementation of this agreement.” This was the right thing to do since that agreement hadn’t tangibly advanced any of Russia’s interests. Its agricultural exports and related services like shipping insurance remain sanctioned by the West in violation of that deal so there was no reason to extend it again.
"...The Russian leader should stop projecting [...] it’s this personal shortcoming..."
Is it possible for humans, or any other sentient being, to not project? I rather think not; I don't think you can perceive without projecting: it's a two-way street. What and how you project probably depends on what and how you perceive, which is probably the result of innate personality characteristics or predisposition as much as any learnt behaviour. I'm glad Putin is the way he is. I think the world would be a far, far darker, colder and crueler place if he were any other way.
I like Putin a lot too and appreciate what he does for the world, but I still feel like he's been way too trusting of the West, even nowadays. I think Russia shouldn't have returned to the grain deal late last year after it briefly suspended participation in it.
The only reason why it did that was because it mistakenly trusted that the West would finally implement the part about partially removing some sanctions in order to facilitate Russia's agricultural exports. That ultimately never happened, which was prediction in my opinion.
We can also observe a clear pattern of Russia always being the only party to implement "goodwill gestures", which haven't ever been reciprocated by the West or Kiev, nor have they resulted in Russia ever getting anything in return.
Jul 17, 2023·edited Jul 17, 2023Liked by Andrew Korybko
Yes, I believe you're right and I agree with you.
I've gone off a lot of Christian ideology in recent years, the idea of turning the other cheek among the lot of ideas I'm not so keen on any more.
Putin's relationship with hypocrisy is one of the things I find so attractive about him. I wouldn't expect him, or anyone else, to stand up for Christian values to any great degree. Doing so is more likely to be as hypocritical as it is unrealistic in our modern world. But he has been seen going to Church, and I think the way he turns the other cheek for example as the grain deal might illustrate, is directly proportional to the extent to which he tries to adhere to Christian values. This to me is a far better statement than anything he, or anyone else, could say or do — a lack of hypocrisy.
I agree. What you see is what you get with Putin. He's a true statesman and one of the last around nowadays. I also like that he doesn't overreact to provocations either, but still wish he'd stop letting himself get led around.
If I might add to this, it seems to me that, in addition to being a man of his word, Putin also has the vision to see that the world he wants to see is one he must continually demonstrate- one where people, and leaders especially, have integrity and can be trusted to do the objectively right thing. Not continuing on a particular path where that integrity is used against him, but always allowing for the better outcome. The west may be led by a bunch of mafiosi, but the rest of the world sees, and takes note. My respect for him knows no bounds.
"...The Russian leader should stop projecting [...] it’s this personal shortcoming..."
Is it possible for humans, or any other sentient being, to not project? I rather think not; I don't think you can perceive without projecting: it's a two-way street. What and how you project probably depends on what and how you perceive, which is probably the result of innate personality characteristics or predisposition as much as any learnt behaviour. I'm glad Putin is the way he is. I think the world would be a far, far darker, colder and crueler place if he were any other way.
I like Putin a lot too and appreciate what he does for the world, but I still feel like he's been way too trusting of the West, even nowadays. I think Russia shouldn't have returned to the grain deal late last year after it briefly suspended participation in it.
The only reason why it did that was because it mistakenly trusted that the West would finally implement the part about partially removing some sanctions in order to facilitate Russia's agricultural exports. That ultimately never happened, which was prediction in my opinion.
We can also observe a clear pattern of Russia always being the only party to implement "goodwill gestures", which haven't ever been reciprocated by the West or Kiev, nor have they resulted in Russia ever getting anything in return.
Yes, I believe you're right and I agree with you.
I've gone off a lot of Christian ideology in recent years, the idea of turning the other cheek among the lot of ideas I'm not so keen on any more.
Putin's relationship with hypocrisy is one of the things I find so attractive about him. I wouldn't expect him, or anyone else, to stand up for Christian values to any great degree. Doing so is more likely to be as hypocritical as it is unrealistic in our modern world. But he has been seen going to Church, and I think the way he turns the other cheek for example as the grain deal might illustrate, is directly proportional to the extent to which he tries to adhere to Christian values. This to me is a far better statement than anything he, or anyone else, could say or do — a lack of hypocrisy.
I agree. What you see is what you get with Putin. He's a true statesman and one of the last around nowadays. I also like that he doesn't overreact to provocations either, but still wish he'd stop letting himself get led around.
Again, I agree.
But let's hope he's one of the first, rather than one of the last.
If I might add to this, it seems to me that, in addition to being a man of his word, Putin also has the vision to see that the world he wants to see is one he must continually demonstrate- one where people, and leaders especially, have integrity and can be trusted to do the objectively right thing. Not continuing on a particular path where that integrity is used against him, but always allowing for the better outcome. The west may be led by a bunch of mafiosi, but the rest of the world sees, and takes note. My respect for him knows no bounds.