Russia faces pressure from a divided West
(Baonghean.vn) - Last week, the US and Europe seemed to stand together with the UK to continue to put pressure on President Vladimir Putin regarding Russia's alleged nerve agent attack on former double agent Sergei Skripal in the UK. However, this "united front" of the West did not last long.
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| Russian President Vladimir Putin. Photo: AP |
President Donald Trump did not even raise the issue during a congratulatory call to Putin on his re-election as Russian President on March 20. The same day, the European Union (EU) said it was not considering new sanctions against Russia over the attack, which European leaders said was the first use of a nerve agent in Europe since the end of World War II.
“Putin is betting that the West is weak and divided,” said Valery Solovei, a political scientist at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations. “The Russians are very good at taking advantage of this opportunity.”
However, according to many observers and analysts in Russia, the Kremlin's motivation lies in its ambition to confront the West before the Russian presidential election last weekend.
By highlighting the divisions and weaknesses among those who would seek to isolate Russia, Mr Putin is again seeking a new détente, but on his terms.
“Putin’s victory shows the West that he is popular, that Western pressure is meaningless, and now the ball is in the court of the West,” said Gleb Kuznetsov, a Kremlin-backed political consultant. “In this situation, when the West refers to Russia as a bad thing, no change or steps towards reconciliation can come from Russia.”
Solovei said President Putin's goal is clear: "Recognizing the new foreign policy status quo, lifting sanctions and creating conditions for a smooth transfer of power" in Russia when his presidential term ends in 2024.
“His strategy is clear: strategic patience in difficult conditions,” said Mr. Solevei.
Western analysts say the approach seems to be working. “So far, Putin has been proven right,” said Joerg Forbrig, senior program director at the Marshall Fund of the United States. “He must feel the West is divided.”
