Vladimir Putin in The Guardian (U.K.)

On Principles & Values: 2016: use 'all possible force' to ensure Trump victory

A 2016 report prepared by Putin's expert department recommended Moscow use 'all possible force' to ensure a Trump presidential victory. On 14 January 2016 a three-page executive summary of conclusions and recommendations was signed by Putin two days later. What was said inside the Kremlin is unknown. But the president and his intelligence officials appear to have signed off on a multi-agency plan to interfere in US democracy, framed in terms of justified self-defence.

Putin has repeatedly denied accusations of interfering in western democracy. The documents seem to contradict this claim. They suggest one of the most important and audacious espionage operations of the 21st century: a plot to help put the "mentally unstable" Trump in the White House. The papers appear to set out a route map for what actually happened in 2016.

Moscow would gain most from a Republican victory, the paper states. This could lead to a "social explosion" that would in turn weaken the US president, it says.

Source: The Guardian on Trump Impeachment Jul 15, 2021

On War & Peace: Admit no mistakes in Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea

A 2016 report--"No 32-04\vd"--says sanctions imposed by the US after Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea have contributed to domestic tensions. An expert on Russia's spy agencies said, "The Kremlin micromanages most of these operations. Putin has made it clear to his spies since at least 2015 that nothing can be done independently from him. There is no room for independent action."

The UK's former ambassador in Moscow said, "There is no sense Russia might have made a mistake by invading Ukraine. The report is fully in line with the sort of thing I would expect in 2016, and even more so now. There is a good deal of paranoia. They believe the US is responsible for everything. This view is deeply dug into the soul of Russia's leaders."

Source: The Guardian on Trump Impeachment Jul 15, 2021

On Homeland Security: Moscow's strategic objectives include "social turmoil" in US

Vladimir Putin personally authorised a secret spy agency operation to support a "mentally unstable" Donald Trump in the 2016 US presidential election during a closed session of Russia's national security council, according to what are assessed to be leaked Kremlin documents.

The key meeting took place on 22 January 2016, the papers suggest, with the Russian president, his spy chiefs and senior ministers all present. They agreed a Trump White House would help secure Moscow's strategic objectives, among them "social turmoil" in the US and a weakening of the American president's negotiating position.

Russia's three spy agencies were ordered to find practical ways to support Trump, in a decree appearing to bear Putin's signature. By this point Trump was the frontrunner in the Republican nomination race. A report prepared by Putin's expert department recommended Moscow use "all possible force" to ensure a Trump victory.

Independent experts say the report--"No 32-04\vd"--appears to be genuine.

Source: The Guardian on Trump Impeachment Jul 15, 2021

The above quotations are from The Guardian (United Kingdom) political articles. Click here for other excerpts from The Guardian (United Kingdom) political articles. Click here for other excerpts by Vladimir Putin. Click here for a profile of Vladimir Putin.
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Page last updated: Nov 03, 2024