Hear me out. I keep going back to the scenario of Corporate Governance. I keep bumping into evidence that all of these world leaders (including Trump) are or have been on good terms with each other -- pictures of them partying together or speaking at the WEF, etc.

If you run this through a Corporate takeover lens, it looks like the World Powers are vying for top position amongst themselves while keeping the minions distracted and distressed with threats of illness, jail, economic catastrophe, even death.

Who will win the prize of top tyrant? who will manage the world resources and the human "problem" most effectively?

There may be White Hats in the mix, and Putin may have some justification for doing what he's doing, but it may be the REAL reason is to show how good he is at "managing resources and problem employees."