Putin was a student of Yuri Andropov’s.
Andropov knew the Soviet System was doomed, and was trying to reform it from within. Putin’s support of Yeltsin during the coup says a lot, as well.
Putin would have served the Czar if he was still in power.
And he admires Stalin as a “Russian Nationalist” (despite the fact that Stalin was Georgian), and not as a Communist.
Good to know. Thanks.