Putin's successes

Russian President Vladimir Putin has scored some notable successes for his imperialist policies, including the following:

1. Putin has succeeded in putting on display for all the world the incompetence as well as the brutality of Russia's military.
2. In focussing his military might on Ukraine, he has successfully made his vast country vulnerable on other fronts, especially in the far east along the border with China, at the moment an ally of convenience.
   
3. Putin has brought unity to the Ukrainian people across the historic linguistic and religious divisions that once separated them.
4. Putin has succeeded in ensuring the enmity of virtually all Ukrainians, including native Russian speakers, for decades to come.
   
5. Putin has succeeded in convincing Russia's neighbours that they cannot trust him and are in need of protection from his aggressive policies.
6. Putin has successfully strengthened the unity and resolve of NATO members and has made membership more attractive even to long-time neutral states.
7. Putin has succeeded in reorienting NATO from a broad-based collective security zone to an alliance against his aggressive policies.
   
8. Putin has succeeded in sinking the Russian economy in his efforts to restore his country's great power status.
9. Putin has successfully earned the epithet of war criminal and has made his country a pariah state throughout much of the world.
10. With the aid of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, Putin has successfully demonstrated the negative consequences of following a nationalist faith.

Few rulers have achieved such notable successes in so short a time. They have certainly secured his reputation and legacy in the history books, where he will take his place in the company of a small collection of similarly notorious rulers.