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Putin

All articles tagged with #putin

world1 day ago•3 min saved

Four Years In, Putin Maintains Russia’s War Footing

Four years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Vladimir Putin has kept Russia on a war footing, shifted the economy toward weapons production, and tightened media control as Western sanctions bite and Ukrainian strikes target Russian facilities. Ordinary Russians in major cities report little daily change despite rising prices, while state media broadcasts a pro-war narrative and foreign platforms face restrictions. Peace talks have stalled since 2025, with Moscow pressing its demands as it slowly expands control in Ukraine.

via Al Jazeera|

#propaganda #putin #russia

world2 days ago•7 min saved

Ukraine Unbroken: Zelenskyy vows resilience four years into war

On the war's four-year anniversary, Zelenskyy says Ukraine has withstood Russia's onslaught and not lost its statehood, even as Moscow controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory; European leaders gather in Kyiv, calls for an immediate ceasefire grow, and peace talks remain stalled as casualties and hardship persist.

via Associated Press News|

#europe #putin #ukraine

world2 days ago•3 min saved

Ramaphosa lauds Putin for helping bring home South Africans ensnared in Ukraine conflict

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa thanked Vladimir Putin after the SA government helped secure the return of 17 South Africans who allegedly joined mercenary forces in the Russia-Ukraine war; four have returned, 11 more are on their way home and two remain to be processed or are in transit; Ramaphosa spoke to Putin on February 10 and said the gesture would facilitate their repatriation, with SA’s embassy in Moscow continuing to monitor the one person still in hospital as recruitment investigations proceed; it is illegal in South Africa to fight as a mercenary without government authorization.

via BBC|

#mercenaries #putin #ramaphosa

world2 days ago•29 min saved

Putin’s Grip Depends on War

An UnHerd opinion piece argues that Vladimir Putin cannot sustain his rule without ongoing war, portraying the invasion as a tool to shore up a gerontocratic regime while wrecking Ukraine and harming Russian society. It says the conflict sacrifices young men, fuels state propaganda, and contributes to cultural stagnation, with Russia’s cultural life described as having slipped into a coma, all within the wider geopolitics of Europe, NATO, and energy politics.

via UnHerd|

#culture #propaganda #putin

world2 days ago•6 min saved

Putin’s Ukraine gamble exposes a strategic collapse

An analysis argues that Vladimir Putin’s fixation on Ukraine has produced a string of strategic blunders—from pursuing full annexation of Crimea and four additional provinces to backing separatists and chasing a demilitarised Kyiv. Ukraine’s steadfast resistance has denied him victory, leaving occupied areas ruined and Russia weakened, with heavy costs in lives, economy, and Western ties. Even attempts at peace led by unlikely allies couldn’t repair the damage, illustrating how in autocracy one leader can keep a futile war going with little accountability.

via The i Paper|

#analysis #putin #russia

world2 days ago•5 min saved

Ukraine marks fifth war anniversary as Zelenskyy says Russia failed to meet aims, Kremlin agrees

On the fifth anniversary of Russia's invasion, Zelenskyy says Moscow has not achieved its war aims and Ukraine will pursue a strong, lasting peace; the Kremlin echoed the assessment as fighting continues and negotiations stall. The conflict has devastated Ukraine, with reconstruction costs estimated around $588 billion, while Western leaders reaffirm support and diplomacy remains deadlocked.

via CBS News|

#putin #russia #ukraine

europe3 days ago•15 min saved

Putin's Endgame: A Neutral Ukraine and a Fraying European Order

Four Russia-Ukraine experts argue Putin’s aims have stayed constant: a neutral, demilitarized Ukraine under Russian influence with Crimea and Donbas non-negotiable; but whether he seeks full political control or a stalemate is debated. With Western guarantees unreliable, Ukraine must rely on its own military, and any settlement would hinge on a ceasefire and demarcation that tests the rules-based order.

via Responsible Statecraft|

#europe #nicolai-petro #putin

opinion3 days ago•4 min saved

Lillie’s Guardian cartoon marks Ukraine’s war’s fourth anniversary

A Guardian cartoon by Stephen Lillie marking the fourth anniversary of the Ukraine war offers visual critique of the conflict and its main players, including Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as the war continues to shape Europe.

via The Guardian|

#cartoon #guardian #opinion

world3 days ago•6 min saved

Zelensky: Putin Has Triggered a De Facto World War III, Urges Stronger Pressure on Russia

In a BBC interview, Zelensky says Putin has effectively started World War III and that only sustained military and economic pressure can prevent further escalation. He warns that ceding Ukrainian territory would invite renewed aggression, calls for stronger air defenses (including licensed Patriot missiles) and long-term security guarantees, and asserts that Ukraine aims to restore its 1991 borders while elections could occur only with credible security guarantees.

via The Kyiv Independent|

#putin #russia #ukraine

world4 days ago•7 min saved

Zelensky: Putin Triggered World War III, Won’t Cede Ukrainian Land

Zelensky told the BBC that Putin has already started World War III with the 2022 invasion and warned that any territorial concessions would embolden Moscow. He refused to cede parts of Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, calling potential withdrawals an ‘abandonment’ of hundreds of thousands of residents and noting that peace talks have stalled. While he previously floated referendums, Kyiv now insists on defending its territory and seeks long‑term guarantees from allies. He argued victory will come with sustained Western support, and highlighted ongoing battlefield gains and the need for more weapons. Leaders may change, but institutions must endure, he said.

via Kyiv Post|

#donbas #putin #ukraine

world5 days ago•6 min saved

Putin’s Grip on Public Support Holds, but War Fatigue Looms in Year Five

As the Ukraine war enters its fifth year, Russian public opinion remains ambiguously split: polls show mixed signals, with some Russians backing the conflict while others stay passive or wary. Analysts argue Putin benefits from a partial social contract and propaganda, yet genuine backing appears fragile and potentially contingent on the economy and costs staying tolerable. The Kremlin hides the true toll, relies on incentives and selective mobilization, and many citizens practice ‘internal emigration,’ suggesting the much-discussed ‘Putin consensus’ could fray if the war’s price rises.

via The Conversation|

#polls #public-opinion #putin

world5 days ago•216 min saved

Four years on, Moscow bears the cost of its Ukraine miscalculation

Four years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began, the Kremlin’s plan to quickly seize the country proved catastrophically naive, leaving Moscow battered, financially strained and increasingly isolated. Estimates cited by CSIS suggest nearly 1.2 million Russian personnel have been killed or wounded, while Ukrainian casualties run into hundreds of thousands. The war’s toll has eroded Russia’s wartime gains, sparked inflation and shortages at home, and pushed Moscow to deepen ties with China as Western sanctions and NATO expansion tighten its international standing.

via CNN|

#casualties #economy #putin

world7 days ago•2 min saved

Putin condemns U.S. oil blockade on Cuba as fuel crisis deepens

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow views the U.S. oil blockade of Cuba as unacceptable during talks with Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, signaling Kremlin support as Havana endures a worsening fuel shortage amid sanctions and growing humanitarian concerns, with Washington weighing tariffs on suppliers and Cuba taking measures to protect essential services.

via CNBC|

#cuba #oil-sanctions #putin

politics8 days ago•253 min saved

Oil exports loophole lets Russia fund war, Browder says

In a Kyiv Independent video interview, Bill Browder argues Western sanctions have failed to deter Vladimir Putin because oil exports create a critical loophole that allows Moscow to fund its war; Browder contends Putin would prioritize war spending over Russians’ welfare, advocates confiscating frozen Russian assets, and urges Europe to deploy far more leverage than it currently does.

via The Kyiv Independent|

#browder #oilexports #politics

world8 days ago•22 min saved

Mobilization whispers: Is Putin eyeing a new draft?

Speculation is rising that Putin may announce a mobilization as Russia faces military strains and domestic pressure, with reports of Telegram being blocked to curb protests, ongoing Ukrainian strikes on strategic sites, and deteriorating conditions in Belgorod fueling analyses that Moscow could widen the war through a draft.

via Daily Kos|

#belgorod #mobilization #putin