Another high-ranking general in Russia's army loses his post.
A former US ambassador wants to recognize that Putin is slowly rethinking.
WASHINGTON – Hardly any other person is watched by the world public as closely as Vladimir Putin.
Every photo or video, every speech and every move is analyzed for clues about his condition and his future actions.
The change in personnel in his general staff recently aroused interested looks from Germany and abroad.
The ex-US ambassador in Moscow, Michael McFaul, wants to see a clear sign in the recent appointment.
The "end of Putinism": ex-ambassador sees three signs of the ruler's fall
Contrary to previous promises, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin cannot boast of a quick victory over Ukraine.
It is true that Russian troops are attacking the Ukrainian army near Bakhmut.
But shortly before the first anniversary of the war, a great number of intermediate goals remained unfulfilled.
Now Putin has subtly expressed his displeasure by replacing former chief of staff Sergei Surovikin with rising star and hard-line general Valery Gerasimov.
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The new Chief of the Russian General Staff Sergei Surovikin (left) and his predecessor Valery Gerasimov
© Mikhail Klimentyev/imago
The promotion of the experienced officer Surovikons, winner of the Hero of Russia award, is not so long ago.
He only took office on October 8, 2022 for the same reason he is now having to step down: the lack of military success.
Former US Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul has only one explanation: “Putin understands that Russia is losing in Ukraine,” he explains in his
Washington Post
column .
Signs of Putin's weakness – "Battlefield victories unlikely"
McFaul supports his hypothesis with further indications of a possible admission by Putin.
Be it the cancellation of the traditional press conference with a question and answer session at the end of the year or further omitted or postponed public appearances - for McFaul these abnormalities are unmistakable proof of his theory.
The picture is supplemented by people loyal to the Kremlin who are critical of the war on television.
Diplomat McFaul concludes from three factors that Putin will never recover from the war.
At the beginning - despite renewed mobilization - "essential victories of Russia on the battlefield are unlikely".
Especially now that Ukraine is being supported with main battle tanks.
Second, the columnist and political scientist predicts that the West's economic sanctions are taking effect and that Putin has recently lost the support of business and its elites.
Despite the ruler’s sole rule: “the beginning of the fall of Putinism”
For the author, the support of Russian civil society is the third factor that should make Putin lose the war.
Because the popularity of the ruler is decreasing.
Polls to the contrary show “unsurprisingly a high rate of objectors”.
The evidence gathered leads McFaul to one conclusion: a Russian defeat in Ukraine is "the beginning of the fall of Putinism."
And just in case, a successor is already ready.
List of rubrics: © Vadim Ghirda/AP/dp