True; Putin is destroying the carefully conceptualized narrative, build by Russian pro-Kremlin analysts with the support of Western “realists” (at places like Valdai), that Putin is the arch-“realist” leader, driven by timeless Russian interests. https://t.co/DxiT4JpAPv

— Ulrich Speck (@ulrichspeck) February 10, 2024

In international relations, “realism” just means simping for dictators.

Putin watchers are pretty convinced that yes, Putin has been smelling his own farts for so long that he believes all this fairy tale crap, and has utterly no intention of letting any part of Ukraine exist as a free independent state.