Putin's enduring quest: Reshaping global power dynamics
Since the beginning of his presidency, Donald Trump has been asserting that Vladimir Putin is in pursuit of peace. European leaders, however, perceive the situation differently, as they are sceptical of both the words and good intentions of the Russian leader. What exactly does Putin desire? - CNN attempts to clarify in its analysis.
The Russian president has made no secret of the fact that he believes Ukraine should not exist as an independent state and he has repeatedly said he wants NATO to shrink back to its Cold War-era size. But more than anything, he wants to see a new global order — and he wants Russia to play the starring role in it - according to CNN's analysis.
Putin and some of his closest confidants emerged from the remnants of the KGB. They have never forgotten the humiliation of the USSR following its downfall and are dissatisfied with the course the world has taken since.
Does Putin wish to restore Russia to its USSR-era status?
CNN notes that during the 1990s, when the Russian economy floundered, it was rescued by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. But since 2000, when Putin became president, steadily climbing oil prices have rendered Russia and many Russians more affluent than ever before. Russia was invited to join the G7 group of the world's largest economies - subsequently renamed the G8. However, this does not suffice for Putin.
- It (Russia - ed.) is the largest country in the world, the richest in (natural) resources, so how can it simply be one of the players? - elucidates Kristine Berzina, managing director of the American NGO German Marshall Fund, on Putin's perspective.
Putin and his associates have been explicit that their long-term objectives remain unchanged. Even when they speak of wishing for peace, Russian officials insist it will only be achievable when the "root causes" of the conflict in Ukraine are "eliminated."
Does he aim to drive a wedge between Europe and the USA?
According to the Kremlin, the "root causes" are Ukraine's sovereignty and its democratically elected President Volodymyr Zelensky, as well as NATO's eastward expansion over the past three decades.
- For the Kremlin, it’s not a war with Ukraine, it’s a war with the West, and a lot of people in Moscow don’t really believe that they can get any kind of lasting agreement with the US - said Andrei Soldatov, a Russian investigative journalist and security expert residing in London, in an interview with CNN. - They really believe that the West has been after the complete destruction and subjugation of Russia for centuries. It’s not just propaganda, they really, really believe in this - he adds, in reference to Putin and his inner circle. He acknowledges that they regard this matter very personally because they recall the collapse of the USSR, which they saw as a significant humiliation.
According to Monika White, assistant professor in the Department of Russian and Slavic Studies at the University of Nottingham, Putin aspires to restore Russia's premier position on the global stage - by driving a wedge between Europe and the USA and collaborating with other adversaries of the West.
She argues that the Russian leader believes Russia - the largest country globally by area - should participate in global governance. He might have a like-minded man in the White House. Trump has made it clear that he believes the biggest and most powerful countries should get what they want – whether it’s Greenland, the Panama Canal, or a chunk of Ukraine - whether it be Greenland, the Panama Canal, or a piece of Ukraine - according to CNN.
