TIMES says Putin has played every U.S. president since Reagan.
He used religion for Bush, poetry for Talbott, sabotage for Clinton, flattery for Trump, and open confrontation for Biden.
He finds weaknesses and exploits them. 1/
TIMES: Putin began manipulating Trump in 1988 during his first Moscow visit, using business ties, praise, and backchannels.
As president, Trump echoed Kremlin lines, questioned NATO, dismissed U.S. intelligence, and defended Putin after the 2018 Helsinki summit. 2/
As president, Trump echoed Kremlin lines, questioned NATO, dismissed U.S. intelligence, and defended Putin after the 2018 Helsinki summit. 2/
In 1996, as St. Petersburg’s deputy mayor, Putin sabotaged Clinton’s visit - keeping him in an armored car and a windowless restaurant, away from crowds.
Clinton called it one of the worst stops I’ve ever had. 3/
Clinton called it one of the worst stops I’ve ever had. 3/
In 1999, Putin impressed U.S. DepSecState Talbott by referencing Russian poets Talbott had studied at Yale.
It was a clear signal that Putin had done homework on his targets closely. 4/
It was a clear signal that Putin had done homework on his targets closely. 4/
In 2001, Putin told Bush a story about an Orthodox cross surviving a fire - appealing to Bush’s Christian faith.
Bush later said he saw a “soul” in Putin and called him trustworthy. 5/
Bush later said he saw a “soul” in Putin and called him trustworthy. 5/
Putin and Obama had a cold, distrustful relationship. Their meetings were formal and unproductive, with little progress on Syria, Ukraine, or arms control. 6/
With Biden, hostility was direct. Biden told Putin, “I don’t think you have a soul.” Putin replied, “We understand each other” - a shift from manipulation to confrontation. 7/
I think Putin’s method is systemic. Emotional hooks, ideological bait, targeted humiliation - everything to weaken the West from within.
Russia under Putin doesn’t just lie. It studies, adapts, and strikes where you’re soft. X/
Russia under Putin doesn’t just lie. It studies, adapts, and strikes where you’re soft. X/
Source: thetimes.com/world/russia-u…
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