John Bolton Says Putin Isn't Unstable -- He's A 'Cold, Hard, Calculating Man'

John Bolton , a former national security adviser to former President Donald Trump , on Monday dismissed suggestions that Russian President Vladimir Putin is mentally unstable, as Russia continues to attack residential areas in Ukraine .

I know there are a lot of theories and speculation going around that Putin has a screw loose, Bolton told the BBC . I dont think so. I think hes a cold, hard, calculating man.

\"There are a lot of theories going around that Putin has a screw loose... I don't think so. I think he's a cold, hard, calculating man\"

Former US Security Adviser John Bolton says Putin will be \"quite irritated at the performance of the Russian military\"https://t.co/WFp19v2Rmk pic.twitter.com/KNl3BFIdio

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I think he's a cold, hard, calculating man\"Former US Security Adviser John Bolton says Putin will be \"quite irritated at the performance of the Russian military\"https://t.co/WFp19v2Rmk pic.twitter.com/KNl3BFIdio BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) March 7, 2022\n\n","options":{"_hide_media":{"label":"Hide photos, videos, and cards","value":false},"_maxwidth":{"label":"Adjust width","placeholder":"220-550, in px","value":""},"_theme":{"value":"","values":{"dark":"Use dark theme"}}},"provider_name":"Twitter","title":"BBC News (World) on 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"There are a lot of theories going around that Putin has a screw loose... I don't think so. I think he's a cold, hard, calculating man"

Former US Security Adviser John Bolton says Putin will be "quite irritated at the performance of the Russian military"https://t.co/WFp19v2Rmk pic.twitter.com/KNl3BFIdio
BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) March 7, 2022

Bolton said Putin is likely irritated at the performance of the Russian military thus far, and that hell try to double down to save face.

He has to try to show military victory, Bolton said. I dont think theres a negotiated way to end this.

Bolton also criticized NATOs decision not to get involved militarily but to supply Ukraine with weapons and intelligence. He argued this will do little to deter Russia.

If Putin wanted a pretext to say that NATO was committing aggression against Russia in this conflict, or that NATO was a party to this conflict, hes already got it, Bolton said.

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On Friday, Bolton told The Washington Post that Putin expected Trump to withdraw from NATO if hed won a second term in office .

In a second Trump term, I think he may well have withdrawn from NATO, Bolton said. And I think Putin was waiting for that.

Trump appointed Bolton as national security adviser in 2018. He was fired less than a year later.