In a matter of days, the Russian population is going to vote 90% for Putin and two candidates more hawkish than him. He is the safe moderate in the race. Your statement that “the average population is conflicted” is untrue.
So now the elections in Russia are legit? LOL. It just gets better and better.
LoL “vote” yes...in fake elections.
Russians are stuck with Putin. They sold out to him (and this includes members of the so called liberal opposition) — They sealed their commitment to a new Cold War when they jumped on the Crimea annexation bandwagon. Which is why of course...the elections will be held this Sunday. March 18th. The 4 year anniversary!
But boy are they paying a heavy price. Economically especially. And of course their freedoms: as the Kremlin has gotten ever more repressive.
With Trump in power, they Russians are in way over their heads to screw things up further geopolitically.
If Trump wasn’t in office, things would be a lot worse. Especially in the Middle East. Israel would have been screwed with Assad and Iran ganging up on them.