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Vladimir Putin: Latest news, analysis, video interviews, video reports

Why Russia will never be the same after the war in Ukraine

Why Russia will never be the same after the war in Ukraine

Putin’s propaganda managed to bring Russia to the brink of a civilizational makeover, at the end of which we will finally be able to claim that Russia’s quest for empire has truly ended.

Cosmin Popa
Cosmin Popa
12 May 2023
WAR PROPAGANDA: “The special military operation” saves Russia from the Western aggression

WAR PROPAGANDA: “The special military operation” saves Russia from the Western aggression

Thanks to the “special military operation”, the West has failed to wipe Russia off the face of the earth, according to a false narrative by Russian state media that quotes Vladimir Putin's speech at the May 9 Victory Day Parade. In reality, Russia is the aggressor, and the “special military operation” is an invasion condemned by most of the world's states.

Marin Gherman
Marin Gherman
09 May 2023
WAR PROPAGANDA: Ukraine is a terrorist state and must be punished by Russia

WAR PROPAGANDA: Ukraine is a terrorist state and must be punished by Russia

Russia must designate Ukraine a terrorist state because it attacked the Kremlin and other targets, such as the Moskva flagship, the Russian government media writes. In fact, Kyiv has responded to the invasion by striking military targets, whereas the attack on the Kremlin raises suspicion regarding who the author actually is. Moreover, Russia itself has been declared a terrorist state by international bodies.

Marin Gherman
Marin Gherman
08 May 2023
WAR PROPAGANDA:  23 years ago, Putin warned Ukraine that NATO would start a war

WAR PROPAGANDA: 23 years ago, Putin warned Ukraine that NATO would start a war

The Ukrainian political leaders ignored Vladimir Putin’s warning 23 years ago, regarding the danger of NATO starting a war against Russia and the Ukrainian people, the Russian state press writes. In reality, the war in Ukraine was started by Russia, and the talk about NATO policies 23 years ago is a mere fabrication.

Marin Gherman
Marin Gherman
20 Apr 2023
Xi in Moscow: a lifeline for Putin, money and prestige for China

Xi in Moscow: a lifeline for Putin, money and prestige for China

Xi Jinping visited “dear friend” Vladimir Putin in Moscow to promote his peace plan and sign deals that will take trade to $200 billion. For Putin, increasingly isolated internationally, the visit was a lifeline. For Xi, an opportunity to promote China's interests and his own image.

Ioana Dumitrescu
Ioana Dumitrescu
22 Mar 2023
What’s actually new in present-day Russia? How the Putin regime carried over the worst of the imperial and communist eras

What’s actually new in present-day Russia? How the Putin regime carried over the worst of the imperial and communist eras

Putin’s Russia is a conglomerate of toxic residue carried over from successive historical eras. From Russia’s imperial past, Russia inherited the fixation of becoming a global power. From the Soviet era, Putin sought to capitalize on the symbolic remnants of the superpower status, to make Russians believe this chapter in Russia’s history represented the pinnacle of their political existence. He added to this legacy the cynical and cunning attitudes specific to the criminal underworld, and he wrapped them in the illusion of power and wealth, to conceal the ruin and rot of widespread corruption.

Cosmin Popa
Cosmin Popa
17 Mar 2023
WAR PROPAGANDA: The “special military operation” saved Russia from NATO’s invasion and Ukrainian Nazism

WAR PROPAGANDA: The “special military operation” saved Russia from NATO’s invasion and Ukrainian Nazism

Russia was forced to launch military actions in Ukraine to save itself from NATO military bases and Ukrainian Nazism, and the “special military operation” is necessary and important for all Russian citizens, according to a propaganda narrative distributed one year after the start of the full-scale invasion. The truth is that Russia, without being threatened in any way, launched an imperial war to bring Ukraine under its control.

Marin Gherman
Marin Gherman
24 Feb 2023
A year of war. Why peace is out of the question for now

A year of war. Why peace is out of the question for now

Putin expected Ukraine to give in quickly, and the West, frightened by the prospect of a gas crisis, divided and unable to make firm decisions, would react rather rhetorically, as it happened with the war in Georgia in 2008, or the initial attack on Ukraine, in 2014. Ukraine resisted, dispelling, at the same time, the myth of the mighty Russian army, and now it only envisions victory. Both camps seem determined to fight until they achieve their goals. The war continues.

Marin Gherman
Marin Gherman
24 Feb 2023
Viktor Orbán’s wager on Vladimir Putin and illiberalism was a losing bet: instead of prosperity, Hungarians got themselves an economic crisis

Viktor Orbán’s wager on Vladimir Putin and illiberalism was a losing bet: instead of prosperity, Hungarians got themselves an economic crisis

Hungary has a “preferential” contract for its gas imports from Russia, but has now ended up paying more than other European states. Prices for fuel and Diesel have skyrocketed, and inflation has hit the highest mark at EU level. Besides, Budapest’s bypassing European regulations and values has prompted the European Commission to freeze €7 billion worth of EU funds to Hungary. All that spirals into an economic crisis generated, for its most part, by Viktor Orbán’s policies.

Ioana Dumitrescu
Ioana Dumitrescu
03 Feb 2023
The Wagner group: the army of mercenaries and criminals the Kremlin relies on to make headway into Ukraine

The Wagner group: the army of mercenaries and criminals the Kremlin relies on to make headway into Ukraine

In mid-January, the Russian Defense Ministry for the first time gave credit to the Wagner Group for its exploits in Ukraine. Tensions between the conventional army and the Wagner Group, whose founder criticized the war tactics of Russian generals, are common knowledge. Besides, in recent years, the Kremlin preferred to keep its dealings with the Wagner Group and its activity far from prying eyes. Recognizing the merits of this military contractor, whose very existence is illegal even in the eyes of Russian legislation, confirms the Wagner Group’s growing contribution to the war effort.

Marin Gherman
Marin Gherman
16 Jan 2023
Why Putin’s Russia is fascist and why Ukraine is fighting on behalf of the free world and needs to win*

Why Putin’s Russia is fascist and why Ukraine is fighting on behalf of the free world and needs to win*

On February 24, 2022, the free world woke up to a dystopia. It had believed in peace more than it did in the signs of war, and had invested Putin with its good faith, just as it had done with Hitler in the years leading up to World War II. Russia has reintroduced large-scale war into a post-modern, hedonist society whose instincts were weakened by peace and prosperity, thus restoring evil to a global standing. Prior to the launch of the invasion, Europe hadn’t seen an interstate conflict in over 75 years. Any counterfactual examination is obviously pointless, but still, the question remains: how could the West fail again to foresee the predictable advent of a totalitarian regime with fascist overtones and the start of a new war in Europe?

Marian Voicu
Marian Voicu
26 Dec 2022
Romania, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia are leaving the “Russian Spy Bank”, while Hungary stands with Russia

Romania, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia are leaving the “Russian Spy Bank”, while Hungary stands with Russia

The decision of the four countries to leave the International Investment Bank (IIB), also known as the “Russian Spy Bank”, came within days of Russia invading Ukraine. The legal proceedings were cumbersome in certain countries, due to the financial risks such a move entailed. Set up in 1970, the Bank continues to operate today in Budapest, although key decisions are taken in Moscow.

Marian Voicu
Marian Voicu
21 Dec 2022
Moldova’s “patriots”, from Iurie Roșca to Ilan Shor: politicians serving Moscow’s interests in Chișinău (II)

Moldova’s “patriots”, from Iurie Roșca to Ilan Shor: politicians serving Moscow’s interests in Chișinău (II)

Rusia a avut mereu oamenii săi printre reprezentanții clasei politice și administrației de la Chișinău. Unii nici nu au încercat să-și ascundă relația cu Moscova, alții par să-și fi jucat foarte bine rolul, plasându-se în fruntea unor mișcări naționale și proeuropene, ceea ce, probabil, i-a permis Rusiei să controleze anumite procese politice din interior. Veridica îi amintește, în acest al doilea episod, pe cei care au menținut Republica Moldova în siajul Moscovei pentru o bună parte din ultimele două decenii.

Corneliu Rusnac
Corneliu Rusnac
16 Dec 2022
The stake of Turkey’s operations in Syria: what Erdoğan has to gain and Putin’s agenda

The stake of Turkey’s operations in Syria: what Erdoğan has to gain and Putin’s agenda

Turkey has bombed Kurdish positions in Iraq and Syria in response to the bomb attack in Istanbul, warning this is just the beginning. A wider operation in Syria would help the Erdoğan regime draw attention away from the country’s economic troubles. Besides, it might also be a first step towards solving the refugee crisis. Russia, a country involved in the Syrian conflict, could turn a blind eye to Ankara’s moves because it is interested in exporting natural gas via pipelines transiting Turkey.

Dragoș Mateescu
Dragoș Mateescu
23 Nov 2022
Will the war in Ukraine put an end to the Putin regime? Who could replace the Kremlin leader?

Will the war in Ukraine put an end to the Putin regime? Who could replace the Kremlin leader?

The war in Ukraine is not going well for Russia and the regime of Vladimir Putin, who threw his country into the affair. Although Putin forced all his people to say in February 2022 that Ukraine must be destroyed, the final decision was his and he will answer for it, alone or with others. And that’s why many Western and Russian analysts started wondering whether Putin's “reign” is coming to an end and who might succeed him.

Angela Grămadă
Angela Grămadă
22 Nov 2022
Andrei Soldatov: Putin was always very ruthless and is getting more and more paranoid

Andrei Soldatov: Putin was always very ruthless and is getting more and more paranoid

Putin's Russia is becoming more and more like Stalin's Russia, according to journalist Andrei Soldatov, one of the most respected experts on the Russian secret services. In an interview with Veridica and TVR, Soldatov explained how Putin corrupted Russian society, why the FSB is the successor to the Soviet KGB, what the methods and mentality of intelligence officers are, and how they came to believe and trust him also convince Putin that a war in Ukraine was necessary.

Marian Voicu
Marian Voicu
20 Nov 2022
Why have peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia become impossible?

Why have peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia become impossible?

The last round of peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine as part of the war launched by Moscow took place in March and did not produce any results. For over eight months, the negotiation process is in a deadlock, neither party being willing to accept peace at any cost: both Kyiv and Moscow want victory.

Marin Gherman
Marin Gherman
14 Nov 2022
Armageddon might be delayed, but the catastrophe is still forthcoming

Armageddon might be delayed, but the catastrophe is still forthcoming

A genuine taboo of international relations, which responsible leaders always sought to avoid in times of crises, the nuclear “button” has become commonplace in Russian rhetoric in recent years. Drawing on his crude professional experience, which is based on operative textbooks and a number of heroic legends fabricated by Soviet propaganda, Putin is confident that restraint is but a sign of fear. Lacking in any sense of intellectual finesse, the Russian leader has managed to trivialize the nuclear threat, which proves he doesn’t always have a good understanding of the terms he uses.

Cosmin Popa
Cosmin Popa
19 Oct 2022
Yuri Felshtinsky: Putin wanted a Russian-Ukrainian-Belarusian army that he could use to conquer Baltic States and the Republic of Moldova

Yuri Felshtinsky: Putin wanted a Russian-Ukrainian-Belarusian army that he could use to conquer Baltic States and the Republic of Moldova

Vladimir Putin’s original plan was to subdue Ukraine without bloodshed and create a joint Russian-Ukrainian-Belarusian army that he could use to conquer Baltic States and the Republic of Moldova, the Russian-American expert Yuri Felshtinsky argues, adding that Moscow’s recent actions suggest, despite all the threats, that no nuclear weapons will be used against Ukraine.

Mădălin Necșuțu
Mădălin Necșuțu
06 Oct 2022
WAR PROPAGANDA: The partial mobilization ordered by Putin will prevent a nuclear disaster and will lead to a de-escalation of the conflict and diplomatic dialogue

WAR PROPAGANDA: The partial mobilization ordered by Putin will prevent a nuclear disaster and will lead to a de-escalation of the conflict and diplomatic dialogue

After Vladimir Putin decreed the partial military mobilization, Russian state media launched a series of false narratives justifying the decision. Partial mobilization is presented as a step towards de-escalation, a measure necessary for diplomatic dialogue and the prevention of a nuclear disaster or a war on Russian territory.

Marin Gherman
Marin Gherman
22 Sep 2022
Why is Kharkiv so important for both Ukrainians and Russians. An outpost of the “Russian world” vs. a symbol of Ukraine

Why is Kharkiv so important for both Ukrainians and Russians. An outpost of the “Russian world” vs. a symbol of Ukraine

The successful counteroffensive of the Ukrainian armed forces in the Kharkiv region was not just the result of good tactical planning, but also a consequence of pro-Ukrainian sentiment at society level, determined by the country’s history, its invaluable cultural legacy and the positive experience of the first two phases of fighting off the Russian aggression.

Marin Gherman
Marin Gherman
13 Sep 2022
The Russian independent media writes about the 600-million-EUR yacht Putin got as a present and how a pro-war “patriot” made his fortune

The Russian independent media writes about the 600-million-EUR yacht Putin got as a present and how a pro-war “patriot” made his fortune

Two new investigations conducted by Russian independent journalists provide an insight into the life of luxury of the Russian leadership. Putin’s yacht, Scheherazade, cost close to 600 million EUR, a sum raised by inner-circle oligarchs, journalists say. A different investigation shows how the family of Andrey Turchak, the secretary of United Russia party and vice-president of the Federation Council, made a fortune by privatizing and destroying the most important manufacturing compound in Russia’s entire defense industry.

Mariana Vasilache
Mariana Vasilache
12 Sep 2022
WAR PROPAGANDA: US scholars support Putin’s ideas about Ukraine

WAR PROPAGANDA: US scholars support Putin’s ideas about Ukraine

The Russian state press has taken out of context a statement by the former US Ambassador to Russia, Michael McFaul, and have disseminated a propaganda narrative, according to which American scholars support Putin's ideas about Ukraine. In reality, McFaul presented several opinion trends from the US and around the world on the history of Ukraine, and not on the current Russian-Ukrainian war.

Marin Gherman
Marin Gherman
22 Jul 2022
Bulgaria: further away from Russia’s claws, but still close enough

Bulgaria: further away from Russia’s claws, but still close enough

EU and NATO member Bulgaria, once Moscow’s closest satellite, has been moving away for years, albeit at a slow pace, from Russia’s pull. This process has been accelerated following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, the Kremlin can still count on an array of friendly politicians, spies, and a disinformation and propaganda network to further its interests in Sofia.

Svetoslav Todorov
Svetoslav Todorov
11 Jul 2022
Vladimir Socor: Russia planned its expansion as early as the 90s

Vladimir Socor: Russia planned its expansion as early as the 90s

For Europe to evade the Russian threat, Russia needs to slip into a period of instability once Putin is gone, says Vladimir Socor. In an interview to Veridica, Vladimir Socor says the early signs of post-Soviet expansionism became transparent in the 1990s, also referring to Ukraine’s chances in the current war.

Ioana Dumitrescu
Ioana Dumitrescu
13 Jun 2022
Mark Galeotti: History will remember Putin as a war criminal

Mark Galeotti: History will remember Putin as a war criminal

Historian Mark Galeotti, who specializes in Russian history and politics and one of the Western experts who followed Vladimir Putin before he became president, believes that the Kremlin leader is primarily responsible for the strategic mistakes made by the Russian army in Ukraine. Professor Galeotti also spoke about the nature of power in Russia and the links between the state, oligarchs, secret services and organized crime.

Marian Voicu
Marian Voicu
04 Jun 2022
How May 9 turned from a celebration of the might of Russia and the USSR into a day of solidarity with Ukraine

How May 9 turned from a celebration of the might of Russia and the USSR into a day of solidarity with Ukraine

Outside Russia, Moscow’s representatives and supporters tried to mark Victory Day in ex-Soviet and ex-communist countries, but in most cases, their actions were overshadowed by protest actions against Russia’s acts of aggression or demonstrations of solidarity with Ukraine. Veridica’s contributors in ex-Soviet and ex-communist states have closely followed May 9 celebrations.

Cătălin Gomboș
Cătălin Gomboș
11 May 2022
How Russians feel about the “special operation” in Ukraine and how long before Putin’s approval rating subsides

How Russians feel about the “special operation” in Ukraine and how long before Putin’s approval rating subsides

A survey carried out by an independent center a month since the start of the war in Ukraine shows massive support from the Russian population for the so-called “special operation”, as well as for the Putin administration. The support might diminish as the people start feeling the effects of the conflict and of international sanctions.

Angela Grămadă
Angela Grămadă
05 May 2022
WAR PROPAGANDA: Crimean Tatars support Russia’s military actions on Ukrainian territory

WAR PROPAGANDA: Crimean Tatars support Russia’s military actions on Ukrainian territory

Crimean Tatars support Russia’s war against Ukraine, which the Kremlin has dubbed “a special military operation”, reads a false narrative disseminated by Russian state media. In fact, Tatars have opposed Russian aggression ever since 2014, when Moscow occupied and captured Crimea.

Marin Gherman
Marin Gherman
03 May 2022
WAR PROPAGANDA: Vladimir Putin convinced the UN Secretary General, António Guterres, that Ukrainian Nazis must be brought before the International Criminal Court

WAR PROPAGANDA: Vladimir Putin convinced the UN Secretary General, António Guterres, that Ukrainian Nazis must be brought before the International Criminal Court

The Russian media writes about the meeting president Vladimir Putin had with UN Secretary General, António Guterres, describing it as a major win for Moscow at international level. According to false narratives published by Kremlin-linked news agencies, Putin convinced Guterres that the Nazis in Ukraine have committed war crimes and that Russia’s “special military operation” abides by UN principles.

Marin Gherman
Marin Gherman
28 Apr 2022
Kyiv expert: “The Russian forces couldn’t deal with the Ukrainian army, so they started taking revenge on civilians”

Kyiv expert: “The Russian forces couldn’t deal with the Ukrainian army, so they started taking revenge on civilians”

There is now a great deal of coagulation in Ukraine over the national idea, and Ukrainians quickly understood, from the earliest days of the Russian invasion, that they have to either fight or be killed, says Nadija Afanasieva, director of the Ukrainian Institute for International Politics in Kyiv. In an interview with Veridica, the international relations expert explained what Vladimir Putin actually meant when he said that Russia had “noble intentions”, but also what the role of the Transnistrian region in the economy of this war is.

Mădălin Necșuțu
Mădălin Necșuțu
20 Apr 2022
The Russian independent on the connection between the education system and the war crimes, and how Russian parents have come to denounce their children for lack of patriotism

The Russian independent on the connection between the education system and the war crimes, and how Russian parents have come to denounce their children for lack of patriotism

The crimes, torture and robberies committed by the Russian military are the result of a deficient education system but also of social issues neglected by the authorities, writes the independent Russian press, which continues to work despite the fact that it is almost banned in Russia. Veridica has found an article about how the Russians have come to denounce those who do not share the official version about the war, as well as two interviews, one about Putin's regime, the other about the decline of the Russian oil industry due to sanctions.

Mariana Vasilache
Mariana Vasilache
18 Apr 2022