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On its own, the Kremlin leads no one and influences no nation greater than tiny Belarus, but Putin has found a new role as sidekick and useful vassal to a mighty and rising world power. After being so isolated just a few years ago, he is determined to come in from the cold, writes Owen Matthews
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nvading Ukraine was meant to make Vladimir Putin an international pariah, shunned by the civilised world, economically isolated and living in fear of a war crimes tribunal in the Hague. Back in March 2022, Kaja Kallas, then prime minister of Estonia, told European leaders in London that “our goal is the complete isolation of Putin”. Except instead of isolation, Putin finds himself feted by Donald Trump and by Xi Jinping, and cosying up with India’s prime minister Narendra Modi. Even as Russian rockets continue to rain down on Ukraine’s cities, hardly a week seems to pass without a red carpet being rolled out for Putin.
