A smart British visa policy

[Lafayette]

From here: A smart British visa policy could exploit the Russian brain drain and weaken Putin

Excerpt:

Britain has been among Ukraine’s staunchest supporters since Vladimir Putin’s invasion. Whatever polling says about recent British prime ministers, their rating in Ukraine would be far higher. It now falls on Rishi Sunak to maintain and strengthen Britain’s leadership role supporting Ukraine’s existential fight on the frontline between freedom and tyranny.

The PM’s first international call was to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. I’m hopeful that, like his predecessors, he recognises that if Putin is not defeated in Ukraine he will not stop there, and the long-term pain to the British and global economy, and security, will be far greater. Putin has no war aims enabling a rational deal acceptable to democratic states or values. There are no grounds for an accommodation in the mutual interests of Britain and the west because, declared or not, he is at war not only with Ukraine but with you. Ungrateful, given the years the west indulged his kleptocracy, but true.

We shall see. Time will tell.

It always does so ...

 

[Lafayette]

WHO IS THIS GUY "PUTIN"?

He's an ex-footsoldier who managed to enter politics because of the first president of Russia (Putin is the second). He originally was a member of the Russian secret-service. And for ten-years was the head of that office in a large Russian town. He got absolutely nowhere (not one promotion) so he left that organization.

He was selected by the first president of Russia (Yeltsin) elected in the early 1990s, where he established his political footing. He did absolutely nothing of any particular recognition. But after Yeltsin, he decided to run. He barely lost the vote, but his "associates" managed to fake-reduce the opposite candidate's vote-count. Which is how he won the presidency in Russia. (Or so the story goes.)

He's an historical mistake. But he rules Russia because the people haven't the slightest notion of what constitutes a Functional Voting Democracy.

Good-for-him - because the first president of Russia and he filched millions from the money that the Soviet Union had from Oil Revenues. Thus, the Only Real Consequence is the fact that Russia can sell its oil to the world. And, for the most part, that means China, which does not have that many oil-deposits.

It's other prime customer is/was Western Europe - until somebody punched a large-hole in the underwater-pipeline by which Russia shipped oil to Europe in the North Sea.

Did that lack of income from Europe have any impact upon Russia? Apparently not because Poot-in is still in power. And of course, if Russia is buying anything externally it will likely be from China ...