HOW TRUTHFUL IS PUTIN & WHAT IS RUSSIA’S INTENT REGARDING A MULTIPOLAR WORLD?

The crimes western MSM/politicians have attributed to Vladimir Putin have been legion. LIke other such targets he has been portrayed as 'evil incarnate'. But might all this be false?

The appropriate cynicism regarding geopolitical maneuvering in general causes many to read nefarious motives into Putin's words. Of course in regard to politicians in general, 95% of the time those who red and analyze politicians’ words are right to do so. However it is my belief that Putin is sincere and that his words can be taken at face value rather than looking for some negative intent behind them in regard to the West. Many would laugh in scorn at these words and say no politician alive now or who has ever lived has attempted to deliver his or her views with honest accuracy. I beg to disagree in the case of Putin while admitting this viewpoint to otherwise have great merit, and an observable fact that we have all seen demonstrated time and again in those who practice economy with the truth in their practice of the political arts.

Putin could hardly have gone further in showing his wished for relationship with the West ever since becoming Russian president in 2000. He retained his wish to have western leaders as "partners" (as he regularly called them) right up to very recently. Asking if Russia could join NATO, and the EU, agreeing to the 6-7 years of negotiations to see if peace and reconciliation of forces could be achieved in Ukraine, then agreeing negotiations with the Kiev regime to end the conflict that escalated in February of 2022. He sought also, prior to engaging with the Kiev regime militarily, to start negotiations with the West on agreeing a new security architecture for Europe including the Russian Federation. What more could Putin have done. And he is STILL saying much the same now, despite the entire war essentially waging war against Russia both militarily and economically.

So, I do not think Putin's consistent stance warrants the cynicism you apply to it Matthew. This goes for the Northern Sea Route ambitions also. Russia's approach is entirely consistent with China's both in the Arctic and in Africa, and what's more, if allowed, in Europe and toward the USA. The stance consists in being for expanded trade and development in concordance with tolerance toward diverse forms of government, accepting the world as is, as it is, rather than with the attitude exemplified by the USA and UK/EU that they have moral and ethical supremacy and others much conform to them before any relationship of a fundamental nature can be embarked upon. This is a foundational issue for the development of a multipolar world wherein BRICS comprises the main source of seedcorn for the project. A world where pragmatism will allow development and trade bringing (it is trusted) into being increases in beneficial areas of life. These beneficial areas of life (various freedoms, human rights observance, even a greater degree of democracy) that the USA and its allies seek to bring about by various acts of coercion, including governmental subversion and societal fracturing of those nations even including at times, outright war.

It is easy to be cynical about these matters, especially when parochial, wholly self-interested concerns appear to be at stake. A state of tribalism where 100% selfish motivations; personal and state interests; along with various mythologies concerning civilization, democracy, freedom, ‘western values’, exceptionalism, manifest destiny, religious beliefs and general, overall superiority combine with national interests then an adversarial stance becomes inevitable. At this point all statements voiced by those in nations outwish, or moving outwith, your area of control, are perceived as threats. Thus it is, in the current, tribal, ‘war mode’ of the western elites, desperate to retain their traditional dominance and to increase to total dominance due to what they perceive as an existential threat to them, Putin’s words will fall on completely deaf ears.

Only the continued rise of nations outwith western control will ameliorate the tribal stance of western political elites, however, not through their gaining a true or complete understanding of the motivations of the nations they have fought, but through an epiphany relating to the point at which their goal of global dominance in perpetuity is recognized as utterly and completely defeated and hopeless. At that point I believe the gradual awareness will grow among the western powers of the genuine intent of Putin and those working with him (within BRICS, SCO et al) to in fact, not merely in words or with hidden intent, create a truly civilized world. A world where tolerance of diverse systems of governance enables a reliable continuance of trade and cooperation bringing in turn greater understanding underpinning stability necessary for development where greater levels of global peace can be established. These are the benefits that humanity needs and has striven for, but hindered by the tribal attitudes. Now a dedicated effort is being made to rise above such attitudes by the creation of a truly multipolar world.