‘Never Underestimate Him’: Expert Warns ‘Extraordinarily Dangerous' Putin Is Worse Than 'Wounded' Animal

Ukraine has been gaining ground recently in its war with Russia, but an expert warns Vladimir Putin will be a “threat to the world as long as he is alive” and is still an “extraordinarily dangerous figure.”

Putin has witnessed significant setbacks for his troops in the ongoing war, especially as Kyiv has intensified its long-anticipated counteroffensive in recent weeks, highlighted by a major assault on Russia's Black Sea Fleet HQ, Express reported.

Russia likely has suffered hundreds of thousands of casualties in the war with Ukraine and morale in the country continues to plunge with many rebelling against Putin’s war plan.

Sources told Express this has caused strained relations in the Kremlin over Putin’s war and a possible coup against the Russian president could be fomenting. There are also many questions being asked in regards to Putin's health.

Despite the setbacks, Nile Gardner, a Washington-based foreign policy expert, told Express that Putin remains an “extremely dangerous figure.”

"He has been weakened somewhat in recent months by the setbacks in Ukraine and the attempted coup by the Wagner Group, but he is still an extraordinarily dangerous figure and we should never underestimate him,” Gardner said. "I suspect we will have to face the threat from Putin for several more years, at least, as long as he is alive.”

As the war in Ukraine grinds on, Gardner warned that “wounded animals are more dangerous, and Putin fits that dynamic.”

Despite this, Putin is being warned that Ukraine may be moving a step closer to ending the war against Russia if Kyiv’s military can eliminate Crimea as a logistic point for Russia.

Mykhailo Podolyak, a top aide to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, said one of Ukraine's strategies is to eliminate Crimea as a source of fresh troops and military aid directed at the frontline.

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Crimea was annexed by Russia in 2014 and about 80% of what Russia needs on the frontline transits through Crimea, Express reported.

By eliminating Crimea, Podolyak said, "It will surely be a major success. Russians will become weaker, it will take only a few days for that to become apparent."

If that happens, Podolyak believes those in the West who back Russia will “begin to speak about the need for a ceasefire or for peace talks.”