How Vladimir Putin Became Master of Russia

Early Life and Rise to Power

• 💡 Vladimir Putin was born in Leningrad in 1952, growing up in an impoverished, rat-infested apartment in post-World War II Soviet Union.
• 🧠 He learned to survive by becoming street smart in the tough communal courtyards and excelled in martial arts, particularly judo, becoming a master.
• 🔑 After graduating from Leningrad State University in 1975 with a law degree, he immediately joined the Soviet Intelligence Service, the KGB.
• 🚀 Putin served as a foreign intelligence officer for 15 years, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1990 before transitioning into politics, first in St. Petersburg and then Moscow.

Political Ascent and Presidency

• 🎯 In 1999, Boris Yeltsin appointed Putin Prime Minister, seeing him as an heir to assume his mantle.
• ✅ Putin became the acting president of Russia on December 31, 1999, and subsequently served two terms as president.
• 📈 During his early presidency, he worked to restore a sense of national pride and oversaw significant economic growth through firm industrial policies.
• 🗳️ Re-elected in 2012, a constitutional amendment extended the presidential term from four to six years, and he has since won two more consecutive elections.

Foreign Policy and Global Alignment

• 🌍 Putin's foreign policy has primarily aimed to promote a multipolar world, challenging the influence of the United States and its Western allies.
• 🤝 He forged a "no limits partnership" with China, with President Xi Jinping making his first state visit to Moscow in 2013.
• 🇮🇳 Putin has been instrumental in strengthening ties with India, aiming to increase trade to $100 billion by 2030 and exploring de-dollarization of trade.
• 🛡️ Russia remains a trusted defense supplier to India, with 36% of India's defense capabilities still of Russian origin.

Challenging Western Hegemony

• ⚔️ Putin has consistently challenged Western hegemony and globalism, positioning Russia as a symbol of national sovereignty.
• ⚠️ Russia has become the most sanctioned country globally, with over 23,000 sanctions levied by the Euroatlantic Alliance.
• 🚫 These sanctions, intended to bring Russia to its knees and achieve regime change, have not worked.
• 💬 He believes that the traditional unicentric world order is in decline, with new powers like China, India, and Russia driving global change.

Legacy and Public Perception

• 👑 Vladimir Putin has become the longest-serving leader of Russia since the Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin, with an iron grip on destiny.
• 💪 His supporters believe he united Russia by creating an ideological framework for national unity and restored its military strength.
• ⚖️ Detractors, however, compare him to Stalin, alleging that he subverted democracy to suit his purpose.
• 🇷🇺 At 71, Putin's name is now synonymous with Russia, making him one of the most admired or hated leaders of the 21st century.