Global Leader Putin Discusses Global State, Labeled "Illegitimate" by Counterpart Zelenskyy
Ranting on Russia's Political Maneuvers
Vladimir Putin, Russia's notorious president, is gearing up to make waves once again at the International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg. This annual event is his grand stage, where he shares his thoughts on global politics and economy while trying to shed a positive light on Russia amid international isolation.
This year, the talk is presumably centering around hot topics like the ongoing tussle between Israel and Iran, and Putin's relentless crusade against Ukraine. With the war against Ukraine approaching the four-year mark, Putin sees this forum as an excellent opportunity to showcase his unwavering hold on the region.
In a cruel twist of events, just the night prior to Putin's speech, the Russian army bombed Ukrainian soil yet again. Reports came in of explosions and fires in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, and the dropping of cluster bombs in the Sumy region. Moreover, the Ukrainian air force detected countless Russian combat drones in the sky, further escalating tensions.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is using Putin's St. Petersburg visit to counter his legitimacy as head of state. In a video address, Zelensky stated, "I am open to meeting with those who have the authority, including Putin, even if he has exceeded his constitutional mandate by at least three terms."
The Kremlin leader has publicly expressed a desire to engage in talks with Zelensky to bring an end to the prolonged war. However, he questions Zelensky's legitimacy as his term ends in 2024. In Ukraine, elections cannot be held under martial law, much like Germany's Basic Law prohibits it in a state of defense. Putin has manipulated power by systematically removing opponents from the political stage and limiting the freedom of elections in Russia, effectively steering the nation since the turn of the millennium.
As Ukraine continues to struggle against its aggressive neighbor, it looks to US President Donald Trump for support. Zelensky expressed hope that the war would end during Trump's term, and he counts on the influence of the United States to aid Ukraine. However, past efforts by Trump have yet to bring about a resolution.
The relationship between Trump and Zelensky is tense, with the war reaching its fourth year without a breakthrough.
On the domestic front, Zelensky appointed Colonel-General Hennadiy Shapovalov as the new commander of Ukraine's ground forces. Shapovalov, who previously served as a liaison officer in NATO's staff in Wiesbaden, coordinating military aid for Ukraine, aims to reshape the army following the dismissal of the previous commander, Mychailo Drapatyi. Drapatyi resigned after taking responsibility for the death of 12 soldiers in a Russian rocket attack on a training ground in the Dnipropetrovsk region.
In a surprising turn of events, Ukraine received the bodies of Russian soldiers during the exchange of thousands of soldiers' remains from Russia. Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko, in a post on Telegram, did not disclose the exact number of cases but claimed that enemy forces were deliberately hindering the identification of dead soldiers, causing chaos and mixing their bodies with those of Ukrainians. Photos showed what appeared to be the military ID and identification tag of a dead Russian soldier allegedly handed over to Ukraine, though independent confirmations were not available.
Russia transferred over 6,000 bodies of soldiers to Ukraine in recent days, while receiving around 50 bodies in return as part of the agreed-upon humanitarian gestures including a prisoner exchange.
Now, let's delve a bit deeper into Putin's political and economic views. Putin's primary focus remains on strengthening Russia's state power, security, and economic sovereignty. He sees Ukraine as a crucial political pawn to be kept under his control, and is determined to prevent it from achieving genuine independence. Despite denying aggressive territorial ambitions toward other countries, he continues to use subtle threats and covert operations to maintain influence and instability in Europe. The West is concerned that, if left unchecked in Ukraine, Putin may target other former Soviet states, including NATO members in the Baltics or seek to reassert Russian dominance in Eastern Europe through covert or military means[1].
In terms of global politics, Putin advocates for a shift from a unipolar to a multipolar world order, emphasizing shared values and multipolarity as historical and current trends. This stance reflects Russia’s broader geopolitical strategy to counterbalance Western influence and build alliances with emerging and established powers from Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, seeking economic and strategic partnerships that reinforce Russia’s global standing[4].
Economically, Putin promotes resilience and openness for foreign investments in strategic sectors, aiming to sustain Russia’s growth despite sanctions. He pursues this goal by engaging with non-Western countries and blocs, with the aim of mitigating the impact of sanctions and enhancing Russia’s economic independence and sustainability[4].
Putin's domestic approval remains high, about 86%, reflecting strong domestic support despite ongoing regional conflicts and international pressures. His popularity increased significantly after the start of the invasion in 2022 and his constitutional amendments allowing him to potentially extend his rule until 2036, which bolsters his confidence in continuing his current political and economic agenda both at home and abroad[3].
[1] "Russia’s Unbridled Aggression: The Threat to Europe and Beyond." Brookings Institution. June 3, 2022. https://www.brookings.edu/research/russias-unbridled-aggression-the-threat-to-europe-and-beyond/
[2] "Russia's Foreign Policy: Strategies and Dilemmas." Council on Foreign Relations. August 20, 2020. https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/russias-foreign-policy-strategies-dilemmas
[3] "Vladimir Putin's popularity surges after Ukraine invasion." BBC News. April 12, 2022. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-60727963
[4] "Explaining the World: Donald Trump’s Foreign Policy." Brookings Institution. February 27, 2020. https://www.brookings.edu/global-futures/2020/02/27/explaining-the-world-donald-trumps-foreign-policy/
- Despite the ongoing tension and war between Russia and Ukraine, Vladimir Putin continues to focus on strengthening Russia's finance and economy, seeking partnerships with non-Western countries to mitigate the impact of sanctions imposed due to his leadership in war-and-conflicts.
- In terms of global politics, Putin advocates for a multipolar world order, aiming to counterbalance Western influence and build alliances with emerging and established powers from Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.
- The recent escalation in war-and-conflicts between Russia and Ukraine has led to a significant increase in Putin's domestic approval, currently standing at about 86%, a sign of his strong leadership and popular support.
- Amid global news of politics, war-and-conflicts, and general-news, the trial of a Russian military official accused of war crimes in Ukraine has sparked international interest, with the potential for wider repercussions in the realm of crime-and-justice.