On October 7, Russian President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin celebrated his 71st birthday amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine that has lasted for over a year and a half.
This day was not only significant due to the president's age but also because of the bold prediction made by a respected political scientist and contemporary historian, Professor Anthony Glees.
Glees, in an interview with the Daily Star, expressed his belief that Putin might not live to see another birthday. “Putin will be 71, past the allotted 'three score and ten' and all decent folk will be hoping this birthday will be his last one. There's a very good chance of exactly this,” stated the British expert unequivocally.
According to Glees, Putin is aware that he must secure a victory in the war to avoid defeat. “A stalemate is not a victory. And he is not winning; the Ukrainians are winning,” Glees pointed out. In his view, the Russian leader is now fighting to retain his position in the Kremlin amidst visible signs of internal strife within the nation’s leadership.
The failed coup attempt led by the late Wagner chief, Yevgeny Prigozhin, is seen as an indication of the cracks appearing in the Russian administration. Glees suggests that Prigozhin’s failure doesn’t necessarily deter others from initiating further uprisings.
He also mentioned Putin’s attempt to install Andrei Troshev as the new head of Wagner to replace Prigozhin, a move that might have sparked rebellion among the Wagner troops who despised Prigozhin.
On his birthday, Putin made a public appearance, receiving Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
Together, they announced the commencement of Russian gas deliveries to Central Asian Uzbekistan, transiting through Kazakhstan, from Putin’s residence in Novo-Ogaryovo near Moscow.
This announcement portrayed a sense of 'business as usual' for the Russian president.
