Putin was also actively negotiating a free-trade zone with the EU, when he invaded Ukraine. LOL

They were completely blindsided and he left Merkel and Uschi looking like idiots.

He's the leader of the Russian oligarchs, and he's been President or Prime Minister since 1999. That's a quarter century.

Let's stop acting like this is some normal guy, just having a fireside chat and doing some straight-shooting. His 4D chess is playing 4D chess.