I do wonder if the isolation could be causing Putin to lose some sanity. He’s apparently a maniac about covid and won’t let anyone near him. Just look at those insane photos from the meetings with 50 ft long tables, and that “meeting” where they decided to recognize the breakaway provinces where Putin was calling up the advisors/ministers like they were presenting a book report a good 100 ft distant from him. Anyone that is allowed close to him has to undergo an insane quarantine procedure. It’s bizarre and has kept him very isolated these last couple years, and makes you wonder why he is paranoid…a potential comorbidity like the rumors suggest? Who knows. Maybe he’s just crazy.