Putin Lost in a Maze

Abstract

While Russian president Vladimir Putin seems to be lost in a maze, the world watches with amazement at his folly. It is now abundantly clear that Putin’s initial aim of 24 February 2022 of conquering Ukraine by besieging its capital Kyiv and bombarding other big cities has gone awry. By 29 March 2022, the first signs of Russia preparing to retreat from Kyiv were detected. On 02 April 2022, Ukraine regained control of the whole Kyiv region as Russian forces retreated from some key towns near Kyiv-- Irpin, Bucha, Gostomel. The carnage left behind by the Russians has been unbelievably nauseating. Civilians were found shot to death while their hands were tied behind their back. Bodies of naked women were found on a highway and corpses have been spotted in yards, in cars and in the streets near the Ukrainian capital. There were mass graves full of unidentified bodies. Putin has now mounted fierce attacks on securing eastern Ukraine, where Russia-backed separatists have been fighting since 2014. Putin wants to gain full control over the Donbas, the eastern industrial heartland of Ukraine. The world watches in disgust while the West prepares for the worst, a war with Russia, if necessary. It now appears fire must be fought with fire.