Has anyone ever wondered what happens in people's minds when an aeroplane crashes? Or what did liberal-minded people and various minorities in Germany feel when Hitler made his last attempts to seize power?
The people who opposed the Putin regime in Moscow feel closest to it today.
Decades of purges, beatings of protesters, thousands of political prisoners, including doctors and teachers, political assassinations, and even the sadistic torture of critics—all of this seems to have been for nothing, as the Putin regime is beginning to be recognised by the new administration in Washington as a partner in global affairs.
A small glimmer of hope for long-time Putin opponents emerged when America began to provide military aid to Ukraine in 2022, but this all soon evaporated after the Biden administration showed indecision and fear of escalation.
With the new chief in the White House, America has gone even further by abandoning the pressure on the Kremlin, leaving those opposed to Vladimir Putin and his revanchist imperial Russia shocked and speechless.
The only force that could have opposed Putin
Moscow has now lost count of the number of times President Trump has exaggerated Russia's capabilities, publicly stated that a WW3 must be avoided, or implied that Moscow is in control and is beating Ukraine.
No one could have imagined that the United States could one day put serious and tangible pressure on Ukraine while only talking big and doing nothing against Russia while it continues to bomb Ukrainian cities.
For those who oppose Putin's policies, the United States has been the only real force that could deter and stop his expansionist adventures.
But in their view, first the Democrats were too afraid of Putin's escalation, and then the Republicans decided to join forces with him.
Some suggest that the Kremlin's emissaries misled the Republicans, saying that Moscow could help Washington against China. Others are convinced that the Republican Party has fallen under the influence of Elon Musk and some of his associates, whose true agendas are unclear but nevertheless favourable to Moscow.
Many of the regime's opponents are even happy that the Democrats lost the election, because in their view, almost three years of war—assuming enough pressure was exerted on Russia—was more than enough for the Biden administration to crush and topple the Putin regime.
But none of them ever believed that the US could cooperate with Russia under either political party.
A blow to the civil resistance of the Europeans
The Trump administration's recent decision to halt military supplies and stop sharing intelligence data crucial to Ukraine's defence has cemented their frustration.
We see that it's not just the axis of evil and Russia trying to revise the world order, but the U.S. is finally destroying this order - Valerii Zaluzhnyi
At the same time, these supporters of democratic Russia are now watching America abandon the Europeans, much to the delight of the Kremlin.
Not only the Russian opposition environment, but the entire civil resistance to Putin across Europe senses that dark days are ahead since America has decided to neglect the free world.
Ukraine's ambassador to the UK and former chief of the Ukrainian army, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, recently spoke about this topic at the Chatham House conference: "We see that it's not just the axis of evil and Russia trying to revise the world order, but the U.S. is finally destroying this order."
Anyone in Russia who has dedicated themselves to resisting Putin's authoritarian regime in recent years and decades will agree with him, including those who have lost their lives and freedom in the process.
