--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are no checks on Mr. Putin. Just as…" description: "\"There are no checks on Mr. Putin. Just as he made the irresponsible decision to invade Ukraine, you know, he could make another decision.\" — Lloyd Austin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/867/lloyd-austin-6405_could_there-are-no-checks-on-mr-putin-just-as_2027221.jpg" --- # There are no checks on Mr. Putin. Just as he made the… ![“There are no checks on Mr. Putin. Just as he made the irresponsible decision to invade Ukraine, you know, he could make another decision.” quote by Lloyd Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/867/lloyd-austin-6405_could_there-are-no-checks-on-mr-putin-just-as_2027221.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/867/lloyd-austin-6405_could_there-are-no-checks-on-mr-putin-just-as_2027221.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/867/lloyd-austin-6405_could_there-are-no-checks-on-mr-putin-just-as_2027221.jpg) > “There are no checks on Mr. Putin. Just as he made the irresponsible decision to invade Ukraine, you know, he could make another decision.” [Lloyd Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-austin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Power without accountability leads to reckless actions and repeated aggression. **In simple terms:** Unchecked power causes harm. Key Takeaway Demand oversight and accountability. Themes politics leadership accountability Mood concerned urgent Type political warning When to use this quote - government policy - military strategy - international relations - human rights advocacy Key Concepts authoritarianism decision making geopolitics Questions to Reflect On - How can global institutions enforce accountability? - What mechanisms prevent repeated reckless decisions? A Different Perspective Even with oversight, leaders may find ways to evade constraints. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Could](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/could/) [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Invade Ukraine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invade-ukraine-798306/) [Irresponsible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irresponsible/) [Irresponsible Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irresponsible-decision-3703958/) [Mr Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mr-putin-542991/) [Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/putin/) [Putin Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/putin-just-2193358/) [Russia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/russia/) [Ukraine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ukraine/) ## Related quotes > [Contrary to the conventional wisdom in the West, Moscow did not invade Ukraine to conquer it and make it part of a Greater Russia.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mearsheimer/contrary-to-the-conventional-wisdom-in-the-west-moscow-did-not-invade/) [John Mearsheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mearsheimer/) > [I would like to see Russia not invade Ukraine or put pressure on and threaten Baltic states. But we live in the real and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-remnick/i-would-like-to-see-russia-not-invade-ukraine-or-put-pressure-on-and/) [David Remnick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-remnick/) > [Putin is just maneuvering. He wants to be respected. He wants to be an important player in global politics. He wants people to negotiate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilya-ponomarev/putin-is-just-maneuvering-he-wants-to-be-respected-he-wants-to-be-an/) [Ilya Ponomarev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilya-ponomarev/) > [To present me as the main face of the opposition movement is completely incorrect. I'm not a person who is 'against Putin.' I'm just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ksenia-sobchak/to-present-me-as-the-main-face-of-the-opposition-movement-is/) [Ksenia Sobchak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ksenia-sobchak/) > [If the Russians make the decision to invade Ukraine, this is an attack on the entire U.N. Charter. It is an attack on peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-thomas-greenfield/if-the-russians-make-the-decision-to-invade-ukraine-this-is-an-attack/) [Linda Thomas-Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-thomas-greenfield/) > [U.S. adversaries exploit power gaps. It's easier for Russia to invade Ukraine with irregular forces out of uniform, the so-called 'little green men,' than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ignatius/u-s-adversaries-exploit-power-gaps-it-s-easier-for-russia-to-invade/) [David Ignatius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ignatius/) > [If Russia were to do something that it could do, it looks like it might even be preparing to do, to invade Ukraine and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-krauthammer/if-russia-were-to-do-something-that-it-could-do-it-looks-like-it/) [Charles Krauthammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-krauthammer/) > [“Russia will invade Ukraine, probably within the next few weeks. They will annex the Crimea. From there, if they meet no resistance from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-clancy/russia-will-invade-ukraine-probably-within-the-next-few-weeks-they/) [Tom Clancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-clancy/) > [Our resolve to support Ukraine's defenders extends through all seasons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-austin/our-resolve-to-support-ukraine-s-defenders-extends-through-all-seasons/) [Lloyd Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-austin/) > [For years, Russian President Vladimir Putin had harassed and assaulted the independent nation-state of Ukraine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-austin/for-years-russian-president-vladimir-putin-had-harassed-and-assaulted/) [Lloyd Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-austin/) > [I do believe that, you know, in the future if the possibility exists, I think Ukraine will seek to once again apply to become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-austin/i-do-believe-that-you-know-in-the-future-if-the-possibility-exists-i/) [Lloyd Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-austin/) > [Putin's war of choice against Ukraine has been tragic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-austin/putin-s-war-of-choice-against-ukraine-has-been-tragic/) [Lloyd Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-austin/) > [We want to see Russia weakened to the degree that it can't do the kinds of things that it has done in invading Ukraine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-austin/we-want-to-see-russia-weakened-to-the-degree-that-it-can-t-do-the/) [Lloyd Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-austin/) > [Governments around the world have rushed to provide Ukraine's troops with the support that they need to defend their country and their citizens. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-austin/governments-around-the-world-have-rushed-to-provide-ukraine-s-troops/) [Lloyd Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-austin/) > [As long as Ukraine continues to conduct operations and continues to work to take back its sovereign territory, we'll be there with them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-austin/as-long-as-ukraine-continues-to-conduct-operations-and-continues-to/) [Lloyd Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-austin/) ## More by Lloyd Austin > [We fight to defend our democratic ideals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-austin/we-fight-to-defend-our-democratic-ideals/) [Lloyd Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-austin/) > [Iraq's enemies will continue to seek opportunities to pursue their objectives, but make no mistake: Our military forces here, and those of the Iraqi…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-austin/iraq-s-enemies-will-continue-to-seek-opportunities-to-pursue-their/) [Lloyd Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-austin/) > [Galloping advances in technology mean important changes in the work we do to keep the United States secure not just through air, land and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-austin/galloping-advances-in-technology-mean-important-changes-in-the-work/) [Lloyd Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-austin/) > [We've been clear from the very beginning that that we're going to support Israel in its efforts to defend itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-austin/we-ve-been-clear-from-the-very-beginning-that-that-we-re-going-to/) [Lloyd Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-austin/) > [You know, for decades, U.S. and R.O.K. service members have fought side-by-side to defend the ideals of freedom. This alliance is founded on that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-austin/you-know-for-decades-u-s-and-r-o-k-service-members-have-fought-side/) [Lloyd Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-austin/) > [We are a global power. We have interests all around the globe, and we're going to need to continue to do what's necessary to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-austin/we-are-a-global-power-we-have-interests-all-around-the-globe-and-we/) [Lloyd Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-austin/) > [Governments around the world have rushed to provide Ukraine's troops with the support that they need to defend their country and their citizens. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-austin/governments-around-the-world-have-rushed-to-provide-ukraine-s-troops/) [Lloyd Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-austin/) > [The United States remains fully committed to the defense of the R.O.K.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-austin/the-united-states-remains-fully-committed-to-the-defense-of-the-r-o-k/) [Lloyd Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-austin/) > [Like Hamas, ISIS was deeply embedded in urban areas. And the international coalition against ISIS worked hard to protect civilians and create humanitarian corridors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-austin/like-hamas-isis-was-deeply-embedded-in-urban-areas-and-the/) [Lloyd Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-austin/) > [I think any time you construct, you know, plan an operation, you have to account for civilians that are part of that landscape.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-austin/i-think-any-time-you-construct-you-know-plan-an-operation-you-have-to/) [Lloyd Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-austin/) > [We can never forget to be grateful for those who have gone before us and sacrificed so much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-austin/we-can-never-forget-to-be-grateful-for-those-who-have-gone-before-us/) [Lloyd Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-austin/) > [We plan for all contingencies, and we'll be ready for it, for any contingencies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-austin/we-plan-for-all-contingencies-and-we-ll-be-ready-for-it-for-any/) [Lloyd Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-austin/) > [I'm enormously proud of what we've accomplished together, and I'm very grateful for the Republic of Korea's partnership.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-austin/i-m-enormously-proud-of-what-we-ve-accomplished-together-and-i-m-very/) [Lloyd Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-austin/) > [The safety and security of our democracy demands competent civilian control of our armed forces, the subordination of military power to the civil. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-austin/the-safety-and-security-of-our-democracy-demands-competent-civilian/) [Lloyd Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-austin/) > [When you're the president of the United States, you have got a lot of things on your plate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-austin/when-you-re-the-president-of-the-united-states-you-have-got-a-lot-of/) [Lloyd Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-austin/) [Explore all 99 Lloyd Austin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-austin/) ## More Could quotes > [By eating many fruits and vegetables in place of fast food and junk food, people could avoid obesity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-h-murdock/by-eating-many-fruits-and-vegetables-in-place-of-fast-food-and-junk/) [David H. Murdock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-h-murdock/) > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [I just think my own ambition would not allow me to sit on the gifts that my creator had given me. And so that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-just-think-my-own-ambition-would-not-allow-me-to-sit-on-the-gifts/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [I never want to look back on any moment and say I could have done more. So I go all in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-haze/i-never-want-to-look-back-on-any-moment-and-say-i-could-have-done/) [Scott Haze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-haze/) > [Some would call me an environmentalist. I don't know why. I reuse the water that falls in my backyard in the winter. I reuse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-begley-jr/some-would-call-me-an-environmentalist-i-don-t-know-why-i-reuse-the/) [Ed Begley, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-begley-jr/) > [It's what the people wanted at the time, but the country could not be half-segregated and half-integrated, just as it could not be half-slave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wallace/it-s-what-the-people-wanted-at-the-time-but-the-country-could-not-be/) [George Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wallace/) > [It's something he used to say when he was happy. It could be a very, very simple day. We might be sitting out on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-grant/it-s-something-he-used-to-say-when-he-was-happy-it-could-be-a-very/) [Jennifer Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-grant/) > [I don't think Joe Louis could take the punches today fighting in this era.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-holmes/i-don-t-think-joe-louis-could-take-the-punches-today-fighting-in-this/) [Larry Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-holmes/) > [What a gift it would be if every child in the country could hear a professional orchestra at least once.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-henry/what-a-gift-it-would-be-if-every-child-in-the-country-could-hear-a/) [Lenny Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-henry/) > [If my wisdom could get support from officials, I think society would move forward 20 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chen-guangbiao/if-my-wisdom-could-get-support-from-officials-i-think-society-would/) [Chen Guangbiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chen-guangbiao/) > [How could you justify giving Holland twice the amount of money that you gave Belgium? 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For some reason, all the advanced courses in philosophy were offered 4:30 to 6:30, so I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-jackson/i-studied-philosophy-and-ended-on-sociology-for-some-reason-all-the/) [Lawrence Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-jackson/) [Browse all 8,032 Could quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/could/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There are no checks on Mr. Putin. 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