If I could talk with someone for just one day, I would like to be Vladimir Putin’s alter ego. I would persuade in the following areas.

(Alter egos are persuadable but of course Mr Putin is intractable.)

Following conversation the Alter Ego would speak as follows.

“Within the day I would try to right the wrongs committed against Ukraine. I would withdraw all my troops, and initiate peace and reparation talks with President Zelenski.

I will put in place plans to reconstruct those areas of Ukraine my troops have laid desolate and waste.

I would withdraw from all occupied territories associated with Ukraine including the Crimean Peninsular.

I would expedite reconstruction by designating engineers, construction firms, and at least 25,000 personnel to go in and start rebuilding all that had been wrecked.

I would require my defence forces to locate them to remove all minds that had been laid.

I would employ Russian earthmoving companies to make good the terrain devastated by trenches and upheaval.

I would authorise a payment equivalent to 10,000 American dollars to each Ukrainian displaced by the unjust war I created.

I would support Ukraine in joining NATO. I would also withdraw Russia from membership of the Security Council because we have sold that institution short.

Together with my generals and other key decision-makers supporting my commands, I would petition that we appear before the International Court of Justice, pre-empting that appearance by pleading guilty to heinous crimes.

My final act would be to dissolve the Russian Government, stepping down as leader and asking the United Nations to instigate procedures to turn Russia’s autocratic power into an elected democracy.

On that day I would try to make good all that has been so wrong in the way I have acted in the past.”

Back to real life.

1186 days into this war ‘

How I wish!!