Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is likely to be ousted in a coup because the war in Ukraine has "reached a stalemate", former CIA chief Jack Devine has warned. According to the British newspaper The Sun, cited by the Ukrainian agency UNIAN, the former head of the CIA would not be surprised if the Russian tyrant "disappears tomorrow."
Experts have warned that Putin may not live to see his next birthday as he will "kill himself" rather than face the humiliation of the coup. The likelihood of a coup by his inner circle is increasing as he faces the prospect of a "permanent stalemate" in Ukraine, Devine said. "It will be a surprise. There is always what we call a "black swan" (a theory that considers difficult to predict and rare events that have significant consequences - UNIAN) that appears out of nowhere. Putin could be gone tomorrow and I wouldn't be surprised if someone in the government decides to take over the executive function," he said.
At the same time, Devine added, if there is no "black swan," Putin's problems will begin when he reaches a dead end, which is exactly what is happening now. "I don't think it will be an uprising. I think it will be what we can call a palace coup.”
Devine believes Putin is becoming increasingly unpredictable and dangerous - and his invasion of Ukraine has "sown his political downfall".
According to him, the popularity of the tyrant will continue to fall as the war continues, but this will not stop his terrible course and the Russian leader will continue his fight "whatever the cost". "The more losses and the more violence Russian citizens see, the less people want to participate in it. It will be difficult for him to recruit people, but this is Russia after all. He will find a way to coerce, to entice. It will eventually create an army, but war will become less and less popular.'
Devine warns that the end of the conflict "only begins when the war is at a stalemate and both sides are tired." He notes that Putin cannot be kicked out of Ukraine, but "stagnation is not victory." "The Ukrainians are not going to give them territory. Putin is not going to back down. But you can lower the temperature. They have to give up when everyone understands that Putin has no hope of winning," says the former CIA chief.
At the same time, he warns that Putin is unlikely to be pushed back into Russia. "I think we're going to see an almost permanent stalemate over the next year," says Devine.
In November, Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke of peace talks with Ukraine. As The New York Times writes, it is profitable for Putin to temporarily get a "frozen front" in Ukraine and keep almost 20% of Ukrainian territories for the Russian Federation, according to some analysts. /BGNES
