The entire world knows that Vladimir Putin’s word means nothing.

He pays lip service to human rights, then imprisons, tortures and kills journalists and dissidents who criticize his regime. He calls for meetings to negotiate a peace agreement with Ukraine, then reiterates and increases his impossible demands. He claims his troops only target military facilities, then destroys apartment buildings, hospitals, schools, and historic landmarks.

And he swears (though not on a bible) that it is not, never has been, and never will be his intention to invade another country after Ukraine.

But on June 20th, at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, he declared that the “whole of Ukraine” — not just the 20 percent presently occupied by his forces — belongs to Russia. In his words:

“Where the foot of a Russian soldier steps, that is ours.” [Zachary Schermele and Savannah Kuchar, USA Today, June 21, 2025.]

Which is why most of the NATO and EU countries bordering or close to Russian territory have been tightening their borders and increasing their defenses. Because they know that the feet of Russian soldiers are not far away.

And to reinforce his capabilities — in case anyone should still have doubts — yesterday he fired dozens of drones and missiles into Ukraine . . . demolishing a housing bloc, killing 10 civilians, and burying others beneath the rubble in Kyiv alone. [Stanislav Doshchitsyn and Ania Tsoukanova, AFP, June 23, 2025.]

The Russian army claimed it had used precision weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles to strike Ukrainian military facilities, saying that “All the designated targets were destroyed.” [Id.]

They lied.

And Donald Trump still believes he can negotiate with this man, or wear him down with threats of more sanctions. But Vladimir Putin is the embodiment of Shakespeare’s Richard III:

“And thus I clothe my naked villainy
With odd old ends stol’n forth of Holy Writ;
And seem a saint when most I play the devil.”

Everyone knows you can’t negotiate with the devil.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
6/24/25