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{{Cquote|if we were to use traditional measures for understanding leaders, which involve the defense of borders and national flourishing, Putin would count as the pre-eminent [[statesman]] of our time.<ref>[https://imprimis.hillsdale.edu/how-to-think-about-vladimir-putin/ How to Think About Vladimir Putin], [[Christopher Caldwell]], ''Imprimis'', March 2017 Volume 46, Issue 3. [[Hillsdale College]]. imprimis.hillsdale.edu</ref>}} Putin holds a law degree where he specialized in international trade<ref>https://www.forexlive.com/news/a-little-known-but-scary-fact-about-vladimir-putin-20220920/</ref> and a doctorate in [[economics]] focusing on energy and particularly the field of oil and gas.<ref>https://www.researchgate.net/publication/250171761_The_Putin_Thesis_and_Russian_Energy_Policy</ref> In keeping with the axiom that governments derive their just powers by the consent of the governed, Putin announced his candidacy for re-election as President of the Russian Federation in December 2023. In Russia, where the President is directly elected by the people, Putin enjoyed an 80% approval rating for his handling of the economy and the [[foreign policy]] aggression of the Western powers and the United States in Ukraine which began in 2014.<ref>[https://www.forbes.com/sites/dereksaul/2022/03/31/putins-domestic-approval-rating-reaches-highest-level-in-five-years/?sh=7b162a283694 Putin’s Domestic Approval Rating Reaches Highest Level In Five Years], Derek Saul, ''[[Forbes]], Mar 31, 2022. forbes.com</ref><ref>[https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/putins-approval-rating-soars-since-he-sent-troops-into-ukraine-state-pollster-2022-04-08/ Putin's approval rating soars since he sent troops into Ukraine, state pollster reports], By Peter Hobson, ''[[Reuters]]'', April 8, 2022. reuters.com</ref><ref>[https://www.statista.com/statistics/896181/putin-approval-rating-russia/ Vladimir Putin's approval rating in Russia monthly 1999-2023], Published by Statista Research Department, Oct 27, 2023. statista.com</ref>

{{Cquote|if we were to use traditional measures for understanding leaders, which involve the defense of borders and national flourishing, Putin would count as the pre-eminent [[statesman]] of our time.<ref>[https://imprimis.hillsdale.edu/how-to-think-about-vladimir-putin/ How to Think About Vladimir Putin], [[Christopher Caldwell]], ''Imprimis'', March 2017 Volume 46, Issue 3. [[Hillsdale College]]. imprimis.hillsdale.edu</ref>}} Putin holds a law degree where he specialized in international trade<ref>https://www.forexlive.com/news/a-little-known-but-scary-fact-about-vladimir-putin-20220920/</ref> and a doctorate in [[economics]] focusing on energy and particularly the field of oil and gas.<ref>https://www.researchgate.net/publication/250171761_The_Putin_Thesis_and_Russian_Energy_Policy</ref> In keeping with the axiom that governments derive their just powers by the consent of the governed, Putin announced his candidacy for re-election as President of the Russian Federation in December 2023. In Russia, where the President is directly elected by the people, Putin enjoyed an 80% approval rating for his handling of the economy and the [[foreign policy]] aggression of the Western powers and the United States in Ukraine which began in 2014.<ref>[https://www.forbes.com/sites/dereksaul/2022/03/31/putins-domestic-approval-rating-reaches-highest-level-in-five-years/?sh=7b162a283694 Putin’s Domestic Approval Rating Reaches Highest Level In Five Years], Derek Saul, ''[[Forbes]], Mar 31, 2022. forbes.com</ref><ref>[https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/putins-approval-rating-soars-since-he-sent-troops-into-ukraine-state-pollster-2022-04-08/ Putin's approval rating soars since he sent troops into Ukraine, state pollster reports], By Peter Hobson, ''[[Reuters]]'', April 8, 2022. reuters.com</ref><ref>[https://www.statista.com/statistics/896181/putin-approval-rating-russia/ Vladimir Putin's approval rating in Russia monthly 1999-2023], Published by Statista Research Department, Oct 27, 2023. statista.com</ref>

Putin has been widely criticized and attacked in [[Western alliance|Western]] [[mainstream media]] for signing the [[LGBT+ propaganda]] [[law]] and closing [[gay bathhouses|gay bars and bathhouses]].<ref>https://en.zona.media/article/2026/06/29/drag_club</ref>

Putin has been widely criticized and attacked in [[Western alliance|Western]] [[mainstream media]] for signing the [[LGBT+ propaganda]] [[law]] to protect [[traditional family values]]<ref>[https://time.com/6236822/russia-gay-propaganda-law-discrimination/ What To Know About Russia’s So-Called ‘Gay Propaganda’ Bill], Astha Rajvanshi, [[Time magazine]], Nov 24, 2022.</ref> and closing [[gay bathhouses|gay bars and bathhouses]].<ref>https://en.zona.media/article/2026/06/29/drag_club</ref>

Vladimir Putin's decision in February 2022 to intervene in the [[Donbas war|Ukraine civil conflict]] followed the precedents set by the [[Obama]] era doctrine of ''Responsibility to Protect'' or R2P articulated by UN ambassador [[Samantha Power]] during the 2011 [[Libyan war]] and sanctioned by [[UN Security Council]] Resolution 1973, the [[Bill Clinton|Clinton]] bombing of [[Serbia]] in 1998 to carve out the separatist province of [[Kosovo]], and the [[Bush Doctrine]] of preventative war to protect civilians of the [[Donbas]]. The Donbas region had endured eight years of atrocities by the U.S.-backed [[Maidan coup|Maidan regime]], which was preparing a large scale military action against Russian-speaking civilians in early 2022.<ref>https://www.anews.com.tr/world/2021/12/01/russia-ukraine-has-deployed-half-of-its-army-to-donbass-conflict-zone</ref> Article 51 of the [[United Nations Charter]] allows for collective security arrangements.   

Vladimir Putin's decision in February 2022 to intervene in the [[Donbas war|Ukraine civil conflict]] followed the precedents set by the [[Obama]] era doctrine of ''Responsibility to Protect'' or R2P articulated by UN ambassador [[Samantha Power]] during the 2011 [[Libyan war]] and sanctioned by [[UN Security Council]] Resolution 1973, the [[Bill Clinton|Clinton]] bombing of [[Serbia]] in 1998 to carve out the separatist province of [[Kosovo]], and the [[Bush Doctrine]] of preventative war to protect civilians of the [[Donbas]]. The Donbas region had endured eight years of atrocities by the U.S.-backed [[Maidan coup|Maidan regime]], which was preparing a large scale military action against Russian-speaking civilians in early 2022.<ref>https://www.anews.com.tr/world/2021/12/01/russia-ukraine-has-deployed-half-of-its-army-to-donbass-conflict-zone</ref> Article 51 of the [[United Nations Charter]] allows for collective security arrangements.