**but he is still a conservative tool and a reich-wing reactionary coward. ** A leader who is anti LGBT is normal in the 3rd world. Not many countries in the world is pro LGBT. You might be living in a country which was swept by sexual liberation movement of 1960s. That thing was solely European and atlanticists and was sponsored by CIA. It might have some positive effects on society but if you observe the world carefully , except the western European and Cuba, most fall into patriarchal category due to capitalism and imperialism. You cannot bring pro LGBT values into the east without dismantling the US empire which have used this as a tool against Russia and E. Europe and also against China.
Regarding Putin, he is quite exceptional. If he were a coward he could have immigrated to IS for a more luxurious , calm life. Instead he chose to stay in Russia and rectify it and started saying about multipolar world in early 2000. As a person from the 3rd world, I have to give this man the due credit. That’s when China invited Putin in BRI. He was at the front with Xi. All commie countries have good relations with Russia. Yes, it’s not socially progressive and it will take time for Russia to adjust itself.
I see Moroccans, nigerian, south African in Russian troops. Same I can’t say about Ukraine. Hmm something is weird 🤔