NewsBite

Opinion

Why Putin’s gamble on Ukraine borders on the insane

Moscow cannot achieve its aims in Ukraine without a historic capitulation by the US. And the Russian president has made it difficult for himself to retreat.

Carl Bildt

Subscribe to gift this article

Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.

Subscribe now

Already a subscriber?

Russian President Vladimir Putin has thrown down the gauntlet against the West in a way no Kremlin leader has done since Nikita Khrushchev brought the world to the brink of nuclear catastrophe six decades ago.

It’s a huge strategic gamble by the Kremlin – one that has led to a situation in which Putin must either climb down from his extensive demands or launch a military operation likely to lead to large-scale war in Europe.

Loading...

Washington Post

Subscribe to gift this article

Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.

Subscribe now

Already a subscriber?

Read More

Latest In Europe

Fetching latest articles

Most Viewed In World

    Original URL: https://www.afr.com/world/europe/why-putin-s-gamble-on-ukraine-borders-on-the-insane-20220131-p59sn4