The Kremlin must be happy. But by mentioning the Czech Republic, Putin only reminded what it is

“It’s complete nonsense, the possibility of an attack on some other countries, on Poland, the Baltics, even the Czech Republic. Just nonsense, another way to deceive its inhabitants and to get more money from people so that they carry the burden on their shoulders,” he declared outside other Putin during Wednesday’s meeting with Russian military pilots, which was reported by the Kremlin last night.

So let’s recall other statements of the Russian president, and thus of the Kremlin:

Vladimir Putin in 2008:
“We have no target in Ukraine or Crimea. It is therefore inappropriate to talk about these places as ‘other targets’. Crimea is not disputed territory. There is no ethnic conflict like in South Ossetia and Georgia. Russia has recognized the borders of modern Ukraine.”
Reality:
Russia occupied Crimea in March 2014. It subsequently illegally annexed it.

Vladimir Putin in March 2014:
“The militants in Crimea are local militia forces. Russia did not participate in their training.”
Reality:
Only a few days later, Putin admitted that the unmarked troops operating in Crimea and contributing to the seizure of the peninsula by pro-Russian forces were Russian soldiers.

Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov on the intention to invade Ukraine in December 2021:
“It is an empty and baseless attempt to create tension. Russia does not threaten anyone. The movement of troops on our territory should not be a reason for anyone’s concern.”
Reality:
The Kremlin launched a full-scale invasion just two months later.

Vladimir Putin, October 5, 2022:
“We have always approached and, despite the tragedy of the present day, we still approach the Ukrainian people and Ukrainian culture, Ukrainian language, literature and so on with great respect. And we have never committed anything like what is being committed in Ukraine against Russian culture and the Russian language.”
Reality:
According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, more than 10,000 Ukrainian civilians have died in more than two years of aggression. More than half of them far behind the front line.

Vladimir Putin, October 10, 2022:
“At the suggestion of the Russian Ministry of Defense, a massive strike with precision-guided weapons on Ukrainian military facilities was launched on Monday morning. Headquarters and energy facilities were also hit.”
Reality:
The Russians had demonstrably hit many civilian targets that day. At least ten people lost their lives and about 60 people were injured in the airstrikes. Putin has long rejected attacks on civilian targets. However, their scale is terrifying.

The Russian president, who has been under an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for a year because of aggression in Ukraine, maintains his gangster style of ruling with brutal repression. Opponents of the regime fall from windows or planes, die in prison or are shot dead in the street. Perhaps hundreds of thousands of Russian soldiers lost their lives because of his decision to launch an aggressive invasion of a neighboring country.

Besides that, his demonstrably false statements seem innocent, just like empty words.

We should remind ourselves all the more that they really cannot be trusted.