Russia’s political leadership has pursued a consistent policy of pushing a reluctant Ukraine into evolving Moscow-led Eurasian economic integration projects, which are in fact geopolitical and aimed at establishing Russian strategic control over the post-Soviet area. Due to its size, potential, and historical closeness to Russia, Ukraine has been perceived as the key country for these projects. While the annexation of Crimea was a success for the Kremlin, boosting popular support for the Putin regime within Russia, Moscow has failed in achieving its offensive strategic goals toward Ukraine. Facing Ukrainian resistance and economic crisis, Moscow has decided to de-escalate the …read more
Russia’s Long War on Ukraine
