Putin is surviving pretty well

Ukraine leader Volodymyr Zelensky says Putin's regime is crumbling. But I fear that is more wishful thinking than fact based on sound intelligence. Putin has done so many walkabouts since the aborted mutiny by Yevgeny Prigozhin, the Wagner Group chief, that it's clear he is trying to project himself as a man of the people. He is doing it pretty successfully, gathering loyal crowds him and planting the odd kiss on one of his subjects. Instead of hiding away in a bunker, in fear of further plotting against him, he has put his face in the crowds to demonstrate that he is still in charge. It's good public relations. The West, especially the media, focused on his disappearance after the so-called coup attempt and gave the impression he was hiding from everyone. His PR people must have seen the headlines and thought, right, you tabloids in the horrible West, we'll show you what our leader is up to. And voila, Putin is everywhere, smiling and handshaking and kissing. Brilliant! He has also given the whole army and security organisations a more than 10 per cent pay rise and suddenly all the concerns and fears about the war and Russia's sinking reputation have gone out of the window and Hero Putin is back in harness. So I'm afraid poor Zelensky's predictions of a Russian leader on his way out are somewhat optimistic. Putin ain't going nowhere!