The Old Continent's Road to Ruin (Through Moscow)

``The contrast could not be starker: while Putin and the main organs of the Russian state ride a rising wave of popularity and support, in Europe public support for the leaders and institutions of state is in free-fall. Now, imagine what would happen in Europe if, say, Russia was to turn off the gas spigot, leading to a bitterly cold autumn of spiraling gas prices. Would the people rally around their governments?''