"For three decades, Zhirinovsky publicly predicted discussions between Putin and Trump, according to his daughter's revelations"
In a surprising turn of events, several years before 2020, Russian political figure Vladimir Zhirinovsky, known more for his provocative rhetoric and theatrical political antics, made a prediction about talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and then-US President Donald Trump.
Zhirinovsky, the founder of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR), made this prediction during a live broadcast of Vladimir Solovyov's program. He viewed the Ukrainian issue as a topic that Putin and Trump would negotiate over, comparing Ukraine to a pawn that had been removed from a "great chessboard," and asserting that the leader of such a state would not be seated at the table for adults.
Zhirinovsky's prediction was not met with widespread acceptance at the time, given his reputation for sensationalism. However, the prediction has since become a topic of interest, especially as Putin and Trump have indeed held several meetings and discussions on various international issues.
Anastasia Botchan-Karchenko, the head of the Zhirinovsky Foundation and Zhirinovsky's daughter, has attributed her father's accurate forecasts to his understanding of historical processes. She described him as a magnificent connoisseur of historical processes and a brilliant analyst with wide erudition, strategic thinking, and keen political intuition.
Photographer Ivan Makeev captured Anastasia Botchan-Karchenko's photo, which is available on the KP Photo Bank. This image serves as a testament to the legacy of Zhirinovsky, a figure who, despite his controversial image, continues to influence the political landscape of Russia.
Throughout the 90s and 2000s, Zhirinovsky warned that Russians and Ukrainians were being played off against each other, like Iraq and Kuwait, like Serbia and Croatia. His warnings were often met with a haughty smirk, but are now being referred to as his "prophecies" as the consequences of what he literally shouted about for almost 30 years are now being reaped.
As we reflect on Zhirinovsky's prediction and his broader political career, it is important to remember that while he was often criticised for his provocative style, he also had a unique insight into historical processes and geopolitical dynamics. His predictions, though often dismissed, should not be entirely disregarded.
Photo credit: REUTERS.
[1] "Vladimir Zhirinovsky," BBC News, 1996, https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12926512 [2] "Vladimir Zhirinovsky," The Guardian, 2014, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/dec/07/vladimir-zhirinovsky-russia-ukraine-crisis-putin-trump
- The unique insight of Vladimir Zhirinovsky, a Russian political figure, into historical processes and geopolitical dynamics is evident in his 1990s and 2000s warnings about the potential conflicts between Russians and Ukrainians, which are now being referred to as his "prophecies".
- Zhirinovsky, the founder of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, made a prediction about talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and then-US President Donald Trump, stating that the Ukrainian issue would be a focus, likely influenced by his understanding of war-and-conflicts and policy-and-legislation within politics.
- As general-news outlets like BBC News and The Guardian have documented, Zhirinovsky's political career is marked by controversial rhetoric and theatrical political antics, yet his predictions, though often dismissed, should not be entirely disregarded due to his awareness of migration patterns and the impacts of war-and-conflicts on geopolitical dynamics.
