Putin aims to restore Russia's former status as a superpower capable of influencing the governments of neighboring countries.
Bloomberg Opinion columnist Mark Champion is convinced that in this context, Putin prioritizes not only armed struggle but also various destabilization tools on the international stage to expand influence beyond the former Soviet Union.
Champion notes that the Kremlin views the current conflict in Ukraine as a war against the West. Consequently, attempts to maintain neutrality for countries like Ukraine, Georgia, or Moldova are, in his opinion, unfounded.
"To achieve his goals, Putin does not necessarily have to attack a NATO country, but it is crucial for him to divide Europe and weaken the transatlantic alliance," the expert explains.
In the expert's view, it is in Russia's interest to keep its neighbors under control, and for this purpose, Putin employs political and economic pressure, support for pro-Russian movements, cyberattacks, and interference in elections in Western countries. For instance, in Moldova and Georgia, Russia, according to Champion, actively supports pro-Russian forces and uses them to strengthen its influence in non-NATO territories.
Earlier, analyst Edward Lucas noted that Ukraine has effectively given Europe time to bolster its defense capabilities and prepare for war; however, this opportunity has been missed. The West remains poorly prepared for potential scenarios of direct conflict, which only boosts the Kremlin's confidence in continuing its policies.
Source: bloomberg.