I am confused with the meanings of two sentences in Economist.
"How long the rupture will last and whether it intensifies will depend upon the response of Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin—and above all on whether he steps back from escalating the bloody insurrection in eastern Ukraine that he has encouraged. He shows not the slightest sign of doing so. If anything, his belligerence towards the West and his preference for surly isolation are growing."

"He shows not the slightest sign of doing so" what does it mean? What on earth does Mr. Putin show? The slightest sign or "not" the slightest sign?

What does "if anything" mean here?

Question

I am confused with the meanings of two sentences in Economist.
"How long the rupture will last and whether it intensifies will depend upon the response of Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin—and above all on whether he steps back from escalating the bloody insurrection in eastern Ukraine that he has encouraged. He shows not the slightest sign of doing so. If anything, his belligerence towards the West and his preference for surly isolation are growing."

"He shows not the slightest sign of doing so"  what does it mean? What on earth does Mr. Putin show? The slightest sign or "not" the slightest sign?

What does "if anything" mean here?

Answer

"Whether he steps back from escalating the bloody insurrection...  He shows not the slightest sign of doing so." (ie. he's doing nothing to make the situation better)

"If anything", in this context, roughly means "on the contrary".

Answers · 1

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