戈尔巴乔夫认为，西方的压力恰恰加强了普京的地位 ， “ 因为在本质上，普京的立场和俄罗斯人民的愿望非常接近 ” 。
According to Gorbachev, Western pressure merely strengthens Putin, “because in essence his position is very close to the aspirations of the people.”