Putin retires top ‘hawk’ over unrealistic strategies
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin realized the war strategy against Ukraine proposed by the “Russian hawks” is unrealistic, according to Russian political scientist Abbas Gallamov in an interview with Radio NV on June 10.
Read also: Former Security Council chief Patrushev appointed as Putin's aide
"Even Putin realized that the hawks are offering him a completely unrealistic strategy," Gallamov said.
"That's why the main hawk of Russian politics, Nikolai Patrushev, Former Security Council chief, was actually retired by Putin a month ago. He was offered position of presidential aide in charge of shipbuilding. This is actually a pension."
According to the political scientist, Russian establishment is now strengthening positions of “technocrats” who would like to end the war by agreeing to “get something so that it does not turn out that we fought in vain” and gradually minimize sanctions.
Putin's puppets reshuffle
Vladimir Putin decided on May 12 not to reappoint Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, who had led the ministry for almost 12 years. Instead, Andrei Belousov, the first deputy prime minister and former aide to Putin, will become the new defense minister. Belousov has no military experience.
Putin appointed Nikolai Patrushev, who had been dismissed from the post of Secretary of Russian Security Council, as one of his nine assistants on May 14.
Read also: Putin’s Defense Minister swap seen as move to prolong war in Ukraine — Lithuanian President
On the same day, Patrushev's son, Dmitry Patrushev, who had previously been holding a Minister of Agriculture chair, was appointed Russian Deputy Prime Minister.
Patrushev had been head of Russian Security Council since May 2008, and Shoigu had been head of Russian Defense Ministry since Nov. 6, 2012.
Read also: Ukrainian expert analyzes impact of Putin’s reshuffle – Radio NV interview
Back in September 2022, Foreign Affairs named Nikolai Patrushev one of Putin's possible successors, noting that he was an unlikely candidate because he was even older than Putin. They also suggested that Dmitry Patrushev could become Putin's formal successor instead.
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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
