"Putin's Vision for Ukraine: Integration, Occupation, and Survival"

Russian President Vladimir Putin portrays the military action in Ukraine as crucial for Russia's survival, asserting that the majority of Russians support his course and justifying the intervention as necessary to protect Russian speakers and counter alleged NATO encroachment. With his reelection in next month's vote all but certain, Putin, running as an independent, maintains a firm grip on Russia's political landscape, facing minimal opposition due to prominent opponents being jailed or abroad and independent media restrictions.