https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russias-vladimir-putin-sworn-president-fifth-term-2024-05-07/

> Russian President Vladimir Putin said it was up the West to choose between confrontation and cooperation as he was sworn in for a new six-year term on Tuesday at a Kremlin ceremony that was boycotted by the United States and many of its allies.

> "The choice is theirs: do they intend to continue trying to restrain the development of Russia, continue the policy of aggression, incessant pressure on our country for years, or look for a path to cooperation and peace?" he said.

Analysts are calling this a concession. An admission that he can't conquer Ukraine. But he has used up any credibility he had. How do you negotiate peace with a guy you can't trust?

He has caused irreparable damage, not only to Europe, but to his own country, all because he threw a fit over NATO/EU's growing influence. No one recognises his territorial claims.

I wonder if he understood that the reason Europe appears to talk in two tongues, expanding NATO while also fostering trade with Russia, is because there was an attempt to build trust and bridge a gap, but also worry that Russia might get up to something, since it has a history of doing that. It was a two-pronged approach and he took it as a provocation.

#RussiaUkraineWar