Putin has turned Russia into a failing nation and Ukraine into the most powerful military in Europe. Putin has lamented that the biggest geopolitical catastrophe of the 20^th century has been the collapse of the Soviet Union. However, it is Putin himself who is now putting the final nails in Russia’s coffin. He has done more to weaken Russia than Gorbachev, Brezhnev, and Yeltsin put together. Eight countries, including the US, have placed severe sanctions on Russia that have confiscated Russian assets from yachts to bank accounts, along with the prohibition of certain imports and exports. They have also limited oil and gas sales and other mining industry products, and have restricted cooperation in scientific research, especially as it pertains to military uses and financial dealings within the international banking industry.  

      Consider this: Putin has lost 1.3 million soldiers who have been killed or seriously wounded. He has decimated the Russian Ruble; $1 is worth 73 Rubles now, and it has dropped by 30% since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. There is a tremendous brain drain in Russia, especially of young men who want to avoid becoming cannon fodder. Just look at satellite images of cars exiting Russia. This has already had a significant impact on Russia’s demographics. They are now a shrinking country. The birth rate there is 1.38 children per woman. It needs to be 2.1 to maintain a stable population. It is estimated that by 2040, Russia will lose another 120,000,000 people, not counting all the people who are continually streaming out of the country.  Over 1,000 international businesses have left Russia, likely never to return, including Microsoft and McDonald’s. Russia’s senior finance officials warn Putin that his war spending is unaffordable and not sustainable. Ukraine can now reach deep into Russia with its drones and so far, has taken out 30% of Russia’s oil refineries as well as their ability to store oil, which has seriously damaged Russian oil exports, a large source of its income. Ukraine has turned the tide and is now winning, taking back territory previously lost to Russia. Moscow and St. Petersburg have become targets, bringing the war to the Russian people. Recently, a megamall in southeast Moscow was set ablaze by a Ukrainian drone. Just recently, a Ukrainian drone struck an oil refinery in Tyumen, western Siberia, 1200 miles from the Ukrainian border. It seems no place in Russia is safe! Crimea is now next on Ukraine’s crosshairs for reconquering. Ukraine is slowly turning the peninsula of Crimea into an island by cutting off highways and bridges to it, making it impossible for Russia to bring in supplies. Crimea has been a tourist haven ever since Catherine the Great made it one, but now it is just too dangerous to go there. Putin can’t win, but if he loses, his own leadership and even his life is at risk. That is why he continues this ridiculous and costly war. His original goal was to thwart NATO by preventing Ukraine from joining it. Instead, Sweden and Norway are now NATO countries for their own protection, and NATO has dramatically rearmed itself, including sharing nuclear bombs. Germany has about 20 nuclear weapons as part of this program.  NATO members were spending 2% of their GDP on defense, but now most are at 5%. Putin’s intentions have actually made NATO stronger. The Siloviki (Putin’s inner circle) must realize that their leader has led the country into ruin, and it is sinking ever deeper.