Will Putin’s war lead to the collapse of Fortress Russia and the dream of a Russian World?

Source: ©United Nations Photo
Source: ©United Nations Photo

Russia’s war in Ukraine will reshape not only Ukraine, but also Russia itself. Although not even Russian experts predicted the present crisis, some trends had already become clear. When thinking about scenarios for a future Russia, a more isolated Fortress Russia was considered as one possible scenario.1 In this sense, Putin’s present actions could be perceived as long in the making, although other choices could have been made. The crucial element in the Kremlin’s decision to invade Ukraine seems to have been its imperial dream of recreating a unified Russian World.

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Clingendael Institute

Clingendael is an independent think tank and a diplomatic academy, based in The Hague - City of Peace and Justice. We aim to contribute to a secure, sustainable and just world through our analyses, training and public debate. We work with partners across public and private sectors, including policymakers, members of the armed forces, diplomats, politicians and business executives.