What has Putin done for Russians lately? THREAD 1/
He has turned Ukraine -- a country with deep historic and cultural bonds to Russia -- into an enemy forever. 2/
He has squandered Russia's military assets -- including Russia's most precious assets, young men -- on fighting a non-existent threat of Nazis in Ukraine. 3/
He has triggered comprehensive sanctions on Russia and Russians that will impede economic growth for years and maybe decades to come. 4/
He has reunited the West, reinvigorated NATO, and expanded NATO. 5/
He has damaged his own reputation as a strategic thinker and leader of a great power in China, India, the Middle East, and Africa. In Europe, Putin is now a pariah & will be for as long as he's in power. 6/
He has tarnished Russians' image around the world. Every Russian traveling abroad will live with the stigma for years to come. 7/
In a democracy, Putin would face a real challenge for reelection. He may have accomplished some things in his first 3 terms. But his 4th team has been a complete disaster. 8/
But Putin understands that well. That's why he tried to kill Navalny and then arrested him. That's why he shut down independent media. These are acts of a weak and paranoid leader. 9/
Putin's giant mistakes are first and foremost tragic for Ukrainians. But they also are tragic for Russians, even if many of them, watching Putin's propaganda channels, don't know it. 10. END THREAD
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