By then, Mr. Putin himself had laid out a similar view of territorial disintegration. The United States is confidently, firmly marching down the same path as the Soviet Union.” This still seems to represent Mr. Putin’s fundamental assessment of the country. This year, high-ranking Russian officials eagerly watched the American film “Civil War,” starring Kirsten Dunst. “Hollywood,” he remarked on his Telegram channel, “doesn’t make films about it for no reason.”How would such conflict come about? “Ordinary citizens won’t lift a finger to preserve America’s unity, knowing they mean nothing to their own government.

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Persons: Putin, ”, Kirsten Dunst, Maria Zakharova, ” Dmitri Medvedev, doesn’t, Patrushev Organizations: Soviet Union, Hollywood, Kremlin, “ Locations: United States, Soviet Union, America, Russia, California, Texas, Florida, Alabama, U.S