Why Putin is a Hero to Russians

The Americans wrecked Russia. Putin brought it back. That’s why Russians love him. That’s why Americans hate him.

A journalist tries to get Putin’s attention at the Russian leader’s annual marathon press conference in 2016.[Source: CNN]

To explain the popularity of Vladimir Putin to my fellow Americans, I often say that to Russians, Putin is a version of FDR and JFK — all rolled into one.

First, Putin is a sort of FDR because he rescued Russia from the economic death spiral that destroyed the country after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Secondly, Putin is an inspirational figure with the cachet, dynamism and swagger of JFK. He has seized the imagination of Russians, encouraged them to be proud of their country and given them real reasons to be proud.

The most popular leader on earth?

Vladimir Putin ended the year 2022 on a high when it came to his popularity. In fact, polls conducted by the Levada Center in Russia placed his favourability rating at OVER 80%.

I know that to Western readers this seems improbably high, but the numbers are reliable. The Levada Center is a respected and universally recognised polling authority in Russia. They are funded by the University of Wisconsin in Madison, and are known, in fact, for their “pro-Western bias” — so much so that in 2016, the Russian Ministry of Justice placed the Levada Center on the register of NGOs performing…