Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, has been described as a keen reader of history. During the covid-19 pandemic, while isolated in the Kremlin, he reportedly spent time in the archives reflecting on Russia’s past as a great power and envisioning its restoration. Putin has a particular admiration for the early Romanovs, who solidified their rule in the 17th century and expanded Russia’s territory. He has drawn comparisons between himself and Peter the Great, who transformed Russia into a dominant power in the Baltic region through conquest.
In 2014, Putin’s forces annexed Crimea, a move that was initially seen as opportunistic due to its popularity among Russians who considered the territory’s transfer to Ukraine in 1954 as illegitimate. This action, along with support for rebels in Ukraine’s Luhansk and Donetsk provinces, now appears to be part of a larger plan to seize Ukrainian land. Despite occupying 15% of Ukrainian soil, Putin’s invasion has not gone according to plan, with Ukraine’s counter-offensive pushing back Russian troops. In September 2022, Russia announced the annexation of four eastern and southern regions of Ukraine following sham referendums, though it does not have full control over them.
Since the end of World War II, interstate wars have become rarer, although other forms of violence, such as civil wars and state repression, continue to cause suffering. Wars of independence from colonial rule have also been deadly. However, direct military aggression by one state against another has decreased significantly. Putin’s attempts to conquer a neighboring sovereign country, in this case, Ukraine, go against this trend and have weakened Russia rather than strengthening it.
Putin’s actions in Ukraine have been met with criticism from the West, with accusations of violating international norms and the inviolability of borders. Despite his ambitions to restore Russia’s past glory as a great power, his invasion of Ukraine has not been successful, and his forces have faced strong resistance. The conflict in Ukraine has highlighted the rarity of interstate wars in the modern world and the consequences of attempting to defy this trend. Putin’s actions have not only strained Russia’s relations with the international community but have also failed to achieve his goals of expanding Russian influence and power.
