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Putin is cornered but can still outfox Trump

The Russian president is at a crossroads in his quest to reconquer Ukraine. How he responds will reveal if he’s a cunning card sharp or a delusional dreamer.

Hans van Leeuwen
Hans van LeeuwenEurope correspondent
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London | On the face of it, this looks like a tough week for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

One minute, he was riding high: his troops were pushing the Ukrainians out of Russian territory in Kursk, and US President Donald Trump had shut down American support for Ukraine. The next minute, he’s on the receiving end of one of Trump’s offers you can’t refuse: ceasefire or face the consequences.

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Hans van Leeuwen covers British and European politics, economics and business from London. He has worked as a reporter, editor and policy adviser in Sydney, Canberra, Hanoi and London. Connect with Hans on Twitter. Email Hans at hans.vanleeuwen@afr.com
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    Original URL: https://www.afr.com/world/europe/putin-is-cornered-but-can-still-outfox-trump-20250312-p5lj5u