When Putin began his first term in office in 1999, he asked the then outgoing president, Boris Yeltsin, if he had any advice for him, since he, Putin, had no prior experience in politics.

Yeltsin reportedly handed him two envelopes and said, if things go really bad, open the first envelope. If things go really, really bad, open the second envelope.

In early 2000, things got really bad. The central bank had defaulted and the effects were felt everywhere, unemployment was rife, stores were empty and people were in the streets hungry, angry and protesting.

In desperation, Putin reached for the bottom drawer of his desk, and pulled out the first envelope.

In a small note, were these typewritten words:

“Blame your predecessor.”

Putin blamed Boris Yeltsin, his predecessor, for the woes of Russia, especially the dissolution of the Soviet Union, which he called the biggest disaster in Russian history. He told his compatriots to give him more time and more power, and that he would make Russia great again.

It is now 2022, and things are really, really bad. The central bank is near default, people are protesting in the streets, the economy is in shambles, and his pathetic, incompetent army is embroiled in a war with Ukraine that is a national disaster.

Once again, in desperation, Putin reached for the bottom drawer of his desk, and pulled out the second envelope.

In a small note, were these typewritten words:

“Prepare two envelopes.”