Putin says: preference for Biden remains unchanged despite the debate

CNA ^ | 7/4/2024 | Reuters

[marcusmaximus]

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that he had seen fragments of the debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump but that his preference for Biden as the next US president remained unchanged.

Asked by a state television reporter if Biden or Trump was better if his publicly stated preference for Biden had changed after the debate, and if he had seen it, Putin said "Nothing has changed".

"Did we not know what could come? We knew," Putin added.

Putin has several times said that he feels Biden is preferable as the future U.S. president to Trump, even after Biden cast the Kremlin chief as a "crazy SOB".

Putin said that he had seen parts of the debate between Biden and Trump but he had other things to attend to.

"I saw some fragments," Putin said. "But I have enough to do".

Biden, 81, put in a stumbling performance during the debate, which brought questions about his age and mental fitness to the forefront of the campaign.

[Kazan]

The only ones paying the price for the proxy war in Ukraine are Western politicians that have supported it and citizens that have suffered because of failed sanction war.

Russia is the big winner in this war in every conceivable way.

[Kazan]

Trump is AMERICA's side.

You and your fellow Zeepers are the globalist elite that want to get their grubby hands on the $$10 to $12 trillion dollars of natural resources in Ukraine.

And, you are aware that the Ukrainians polled overwhelming want Biden to win the election? That's because they know Trump is going to cutoff the billions of taxpayer dollars we have been sending there.

[doorgunner69]

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

[marcusmaximus]

Four months until the election and Putin’s war has flopped. Trump is going to eat Putin’s lunch in negotiations.

[NetAddicted]

I dunno. He’s gotta know Americans aren’t going to trust his opinion and figure he doesn’t want Biden to win. Never mind. Yes, he is using reverse psychology.

[BeauBo]

“Russia is the big winner in this war in every conceivable way.”

Do you consider all the killed , maimed, disabled and traumatized Russians a big win?

50% decline in automobile production?

The long term loss of most of its Natural Gas export market - making Gazprom into a money loser, instead of a money maker?

Becoming the most heavily sanctioned country on Earth, and reverting to become a Soviet-style police state ?

Expending the bulk of the old Soviet Military arsenal, and the Government’s financial reserves?

I could conceive of more, but it is obvious.

Novo North Korea, Chinese subsidiary. Send more blonde girls.

[Allegra]

I agree.

I think both Putin and Zelensky favor Biden. Biden is more profitable for both of those corrupt nations.

Trump will put an end to the bloodshed and destruction, something neither Putin nor Zelensky appear to want right now.

[Allegra]

Thanks for the prattling on episode. Now that we’ve been aware of the effects of sundowning, we’ll try to more understanding of the issues you’re apparently dealing with.

[Dr. Franklin]

Unlike Syria, Ukraine isn’t just valuable in itself, for its people and natural resources, it’s also a traditional way station for Russian invasions of Europe. What Trump will do on Ukraine only he knows, but past sweet nothings to Putin accompanied by sanctions or worse on Russia are one reason to view with skepticism the idea he’ll be soft on Russia.

Former NSC Zbigniew Brzezinski stated that without Ukraine, Russia ceases to be an empire. Everyone who knows the history of the region understands that this war is about how much of Ukraine will be permitted to divorce itself from Russian and join the West, likely in a closer reunion with Poland.

For one thing, just on prestige alone, if Putin conquers Ukraine on Trump’s watch, his historical stature rises above Trump’s. Does Trump want to be Hertz, #1, or Avis, an also-ran? His first term suggests Hertz. His urging Europe to spend more on defense is clearly aimed at warding off Russia, as is his reactivation of V Corps and placing it in Poland, in preparation for the stationing of 50K GIs hundreds of miles closer to Russia.

The war is unpopular politically in the U.S., and Trump understands that. However, that doesn't mean that Trump will squander the historic opportunity to weaken Russia's geopolitical position in Ukraine and Belarus. The entire Russian state could collapse as it did in WWI after initially gaining territory in Habsburg Galicia. Cleaving off Kaliningrad into an independent state would enhance security in Europe and push Russia further away from NATO and Europe. While the cost of U.S. support for Ukraine makes headlines, it is mostly obsolete military equipment. Shipping it to Ukraine is likely cheaper than paying to decommission it. I suspect that most of the added cost is for sweet heart contracts for the right connected people in the process. That should be audited to eliminate any unwarranted price increases.

[Does so]

“Putin is afraid of President Trump.”

^
Putin will have to give up some hard-won territory.

[kiryandil]

Russia is the big winner in this war in every conceivable way.

Ever since the Western F-16s arrived to the battle in The Ukraine, it's been a REAL game-changer.  

June 6, 2024, as I was engaged in "petty quibbling" over the F-16s which were almost a year late at that time::

https://freerepublic.com/focus/news/4242435/posts?page=136#136

As for your "reparations", BeauBo - I believe that The Russia and The Putin will gladly accept the future Russian Federation oblasts of Kharkov, Nikolaev and Odessa to make up for the insolence of former Ukraine president zElensky.

[NorseViking]

What do you think are the US top exports?

[NorseViking]

There are flaws in this logic.
The original idea in provoking this war was to force a regime change to put a puppet in change of Russia
Not only it has ultimately failed, a significant Western influence in Russia was completely wiped out and it is going to have a lasting effect, for no less than two generations.
Take into account that two decades ago Washington literally owned Russian politics, it had enough influence to have its way a decade ago, the majority of Russians were pro-Western just three years ago. Now there is no influential group in the society that doesn’t hate the West with a passion. It will reflect on Russian foreign policy for sure.
The attempts to isolate Russia mostly failed, Putin has become a hero of the Third World. He launched a dedollarization campaign that works just fine - a real danger for the US that didn’t exist three years ago.
I’d say that your prediction that a lot is going to be left of Ukraine is overtly optimistic but let’s say a rump state remains.
It is going to be economically unviable requiring enormous support and a huge drain for the West.
Let’s say that Russia is completely divorces from the West.
What is the upside? It has China right across the border.
In light of future Western confrontation with China a lot is said about a maritime blocade of China.
Take into account that the Chinese GDP is only 20% depends on exports right now. Even if a maritime part of it is wiped out which is very unlikely because the US depends on the Chinese goods more than China on export sales, they can afford it to rely on internal economy that makes in excess of 80% of GDP. All they need to keep it running is natural resources. And now they have Russia isolated from the West right across the border which has all they need. What did you achieve this way?

[Dr. Franklin]

Do you seriously believe this crap, or are you getting paid to spread such propaganda?

[bert]

Russia is now a rump state

[NorseViking]

You are welcome to logically address my points. For some reason you don’t.

[Dr. Franklin]

Russia is now a rump state

In terms of realpolitik, the only way to justify the West permitting Russia to keep part of Eastern Ukraine would be a practical trade that enhances the security of Europe. That would be Russia ceeding Kaliningrad to Poland, or allowing it to become a demilitarized neutral state. Putin is unlikely to agree to that, nor will he volutarily permit an independent Belarus. So, the war will slog on further until a new president takes office in Januayr 2025.

[NorseViking]

Would you mind to explain your position from standpoint of international law?

[Dr. Franklin]

Would you mind to explain your position from standpoint of international law?

International law is that big countries don't invade little countries, and if they do, the rest of the world has a moral obligation to help defend the weak from the strong. International law is idealistic. If we followed international law after WWII, Poland would still control half of Belarus. Realpolik is how the world does business.

[NorseViking]

You didn’t answer any of my questions, but how does your point apply to the countries other than Russia invading smaller countries? Should freedom fighter Osama bin Laden be praised for 9/11? He did it to address the US meddling in the Middle East.