The Ghost of Peter III: Why Russia Will Accept Nothing Less Than Total Victory
In 1762, after six years of brutal war, the victorious Russian army stood on Prussian soil. But then the childless Empress Elisabeth died and Peter III, grandson of Peter the Great, ascended the throne. Peter spent much of his youth in Germany and had become a devoted admirer of Frederick the Great, Russia's enemy. He worshipped Frederick and hated Elisabeth, his tyrannical aunt. So the first thing Peter did when he became Emperor was to withdraw the army from Prussian territory, forfeiting victory that had been achieved through enormous sacrifice of Russian blood in order to gain the affection of Frederick.
Naturally, the Russian army and all of Russian society was enraged. Six months later Peter was strangled to death and his German wife, Catherine, was installed on the throne. Every Russian knows this history, Putin more than anyone. Accepting the Trump-Rubio "peace" deal would rightly be perceived as equivalent to the betrayal of Russia by Peter III. If Putin seriously considered accepting the Trump-Rubio deal, he would be removed from office immediately. Probably not by strangling, but by military coup and/or impeachment.
