Vladimir Putin is still aiming to conquer most of Ukraine’s territory, a top US intelligence official said this week. But, after invading the country four months ago, the Russian president’s campaign is being exhausted by heavy losses on the battlefield, according to Avril Haines, director of national intelligence. Despite this, the expert said at a conference: “We think he effectively has the same political goals as we had before, that is, he wants to occupy most of Ukraine.” She added: “We see a gap between Putin’s short-term military goals in this area and his army’s capacity, a kind of mismatch between his ambitions and what the military is capable of achieving.”
“What happens is that you get a surge of intense pleasure and satisfaction from the stimulus.
“But as you repeat it at a high level, the brain needs more and more to achieve the same effect. This is called tolerance.
“It is an insatiable appetite. I do not think Putin was born to be an emperor. “
He added: “His brain was drastically changed by the power he could get.”
Professor Robertson gave his assessment in the excavated BBC documentary, ‘Putin: The New Tsar’, which was released in 2018.
Professor Robertson compared Putin’s two decades in power to other world leaders who have long enjoyed power.
He said: “Almost all people who have great power for a long time are starting to feel so special.
” I’m so wonderful. God must have something to do with this.
“Look, I can snap my fingers and they invade land. I have the power of life and death over husband and wife ‘.
“George W Bush has admitted that he thought God was involved in his decision on the war in Iraq.
“Tony Blair hinted that he talked to God a little now and then. Julius Caesar deified himself while he was still alive. “
‘Putin: The New Tsar’ is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.