'Vladimir Putin’s aura of chessmaster political tactician masks deeply pragmatic decision-making.' From CodaStory by mariamkiparoize.
Was the Russian invasion of Ukraine a foreseeable event that could have been predicted by Vladimir Putin’s past actions, a war plan that gestated in his head for years?
“And that’s the reason why lots of people are shocked, not only internationally, but also domestically, including members of the political and the economic elite in Russia.” “One of the constant features of Putin’s state leadership has been that he likes to make things unclear and to have multiple options. And in hindsight, he looks like a master chess player that had this planned all along,” she said. “I don’t think that’s usually true. I think he’s a pragmatist. So he gives himself multiple options. It keeps people guessing. And then he kind of responds to situations as they occur.