By Austen Akhagbeme

To many people, the name Putin has become synonymous with hegemonic high-handedness, and a vestige of the reminiscences of the old Soviet Union and her Spartan order.

They think that for a world in search of peace, egoists, and “despots” must be excused from the world power configuration and harmful geopolitics which seek to undermine peace in our world.

Yet others think otherwise. To them, Vladimir Putin provides the much-needed succor to checkmate and cushion the effects of the possible excesses of unipolarity and domination by those who claimed to be the policeman of the world.

So when the Russian strongman and hardliner won the nation’s presidential election with 87.97% of the total vote on Sunday, it was obvious that the former spy was into another 6 long years of the often intriguing world of politics of relevance, influence, and superiority quest.

Since his troops and tanks found their way into Ukraine through the Eastern borders and Belarus in the north in February 2022, it has been the wish of many Western propagandists to see either the quick end of the “needless” war or the reign and grip of Vladimir Putin in the affairs of the Russia nation.

But President Putin has been able to hold on to power amid accusations and allegations of brutality and intolerance to the opposition headed by the late Alexei Nalvanaya who was committed to prison where he died. With his major opponents imprisoned, exiled, or dead, and opposition to the Kremlin widely muted, the coast was clear for the 71- Year President Putin to win the recent polls.

Now, the question: of what importance or otherwise is Putin’s recent electoral victory to the search for peace in Eastern Europe and the world at large? Does Putin’s victory translate into another six long years of hostility between Russia and Ukraine or America’s continuous backing of a proxy war with all the human and economic consequences to the world?

There’s no denying the fact that it is time for a truce and a permanent cessation of hostilities in the region. But the skewed blame game employed by those who control the narrative and the media must be jettisoned to reach a compromise that will bring peace to our world. President Vladimir Putin is not a saint. Neither are his accusers.