As Russia teeters on the brink of a very dangerous mistake, the question recurs: is Vladimir Putin a great and daring leader, or is he out of control?

Recent images from Moscow are anything but reassuring. Putin looks – how to put this nicely? – completely bonkers. Maybe it’s the pandemic. Or maybe Putin is worried that he’s not the only poisoner in Russia. But for whatever reason, he appears to have reached the phase in a tyrant’s career when human contact becomes terrifying.

Washington Post