Addressing his war in Ukraine, Putin made the shocking admission that the Soviet invasion of Central Europe in the 60s was a “mistake” in a desperate attempt to win over the citizens of European countries like Slovakia, Hungary, and the Czech Republic.
Putin’s Startling Admission
Russian President Vladimir Putin has publicly admitted to the grave mistakes made by the Soviet Union during its invasions of Hungary and Czechoslovakia.
This surprising confession came as Putin continued to defend Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.
Fueling Tensions With Past Actions
During a panel session at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Putin remarked that the Soviet Union’s foreign policy blunders only fueled tensions and that it was wrong to act against the interests of other nations.
A Crucial Distinction
Experts believe that Putin’s statement aimed to draw a clear distinction between the Soviet invasions of Eastern Bloc nations and Russia’s intervention in Ukraine.
Taking Back the Past
According to Andrei Kolesnikov, a senior fellow at Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, Russia’s actions are motivated by the desire to reclaim what it believes is rightfully its own.
A Verbal Ploy or Genuine Gesture?
Kolesnikov described Putin’s statement as a “verbal ploy” designed to showcase Russia’s lack of imperial ambitions.
Putin may acknowledge that the Eastern Bloc is beyond his sphere of influence.
Implications for Slovakia
Putin’s comments in Slovakia come at a crucial time, with pro-Russia parties campaigning ahead of general elections.
Conservative Slovakian Policies
Former Prime Minister Robert Fico has called for an end to military aid to Ukraine, while smaller parties like Republika demand the lifting of sanctions against Russia.
A Surprise Move in Slovakia
Tomáš Strážay, director of the Slovak Foreign Policy Association, believes Putin’s surprising remarks were strategically made for a global audience. They may serve to soften the image of Russia and Putin in the eyes of the Western world.
Hungary’s Alliance with Putin
Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a long-standing Putin ally, has consistently resisted EU sanctions and refused to send military aid to Ukraine. Putin’s admission regarding the Soviet mistake in suppressing pro-democracy protests in Budapest may be seen as a diplomatic gesture.
Hungarian Revolution was “Fascist”
Péter Krekó, a director at the Political Capital Institute in Budapest, called the 1956 Hungarian Revolution a fascist uprising while admitting it was a mistake to crush it.
Putin’s Efforts to Restore Soviet Memory
Over the past decade, Putin has made significant efforts to restore the memory of the Soviet Union as part of his plan to promote Russian “spiritual bonds” and “traditional values.”
Addressing Colonialism
During his speech at the economic forum, Putin addressed colonialism, insisting that Russia had never engaged in it despite historical evidence to the contrary.
Extending an Olive Branch
Putin’s remarks, while glossing over Russia’s ongoing aggression against Kyiv, seem to be an attempt to extend an olive branch to Central and Eastern European countries that have expressed more sympathetic views toward Russia than their Western allies.
Going Back on His Word
Previously, Putin had described the collapse of the Soviet Union as the “greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th century.”
However, on this occasion, he offered a more nuanced view.
Repressed Mass Demonstrations
The Soviet Union’s brutal repression of mass demonstrations in Hungary in 1956 and Czechoslovakia in 1968 resulted in the tragic loss of lives, with thousands of Hungarians and Czechs paying the ultimate price.
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The post Putin Is GROVELING – Russia’s Mad Dog Despot Has Some New Words to Make People Look Away From His Brutal Invasion of Ukraine first appeared on Career Step Up
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Source: FT
