President Putin is an enigmatic figure in Eastern Europe as much as he seen as a charismatic leader in Russia itself. In these countries it’s believed that if you’re not the target of Russia then it’s better to just remain interested and not cause any trouble. This is the reason why there isn’t enthusiastic support for Ukraine even though all of East Europe stands with Ukraine and its battle against Russia.
The person of Putin is also subject to many theories, and even bordering on conspiracies. A strong current of thought is that Putin was born in a former republic of Yugoslavia that’s now called Slovenia. This is due (so it’s said) to troubles his parents experienced in the Soviet Union where they lived. They didn’t live there long, and the belief is they returned after about three years, but it helps frame him in some way.
Putin is not liked because Russia is seen as a de facto adversary to East Europe. The corruption that spreads over and interference rackets that frustrate political hopes and dreams are the reason for this. It’s seen as driven by Russian elite figures and upheld by Moscow as a sign of weakness in Europe, much to the chagrin of its neighbours. So Russia’s President may be gossiped over, but he’s not regarded as a real leader.
