the uk ministry of defence believes the kremlin is planning to send up to 2000 troops from georgia to ukraine. the head of the british armed forces said the russian leader had already lost. the scenes coming out of mariupol and elsewhere are horrific, and the coming weeks will continue to be very difficult. but in many ways, putin has already lost. far from being the far—sighted manipulator of events that he would have us believe, putin has damaged himself through a series of catastrophic misjudgments. meanwhile, in moscow, president putin has threatened to cut gas supplies from today, unless countries pay in roubles. germany, france and austria rejected his demand, saying it amounts to blackmail. it�*s being seen as a desperate attempt to shore up the russian currency, which has struggled under the weight of western sanctions. in mariupol, there�*s another chance to reach safety. but it�*s been offered before, then snatched away