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Jul 3, 2026
Ian Bremmer
If Ukraine can continue to disrupt Crimea, strike more targets in the heart of Russia, frustrate Russia’s frontline forces, and pile more pressure on Russia’s hobbled economy, President Vladimir Putin will feel increasingly cornered. The temptation to escape his predicament through a game-changing attack will grow stronger.
NEW YORK—With Russia under pressure on multiple fronts, President Vladimir Putin finds himself in a tighter spot than at any other moment of his quarter-century in power. Putin remains firmly in charge of the Kremlin, but there is a growing risk that he will try to escape his current predicament by escalating his conflict with the West.