What does the Ukraine invasion mean for Vladimir Putin’s legacy?

War in Europe would mark a ‘massive escalation’ – but Russian president may not be concerned about short-term fallout

Vladimir Putin unveils a monument to Russian soldiers of the First World War in 2014
Vladimir Putin unveils a monument to Russian soldiers of the First World War in 2014
(Image credit: Sasha Mordovets/Getty Images)

After two decades at the helm of Russian politics, Vladimir Putin will be considering his legacy as a leader.​

During his long reign in the Kremlin, the Russian president “has evolved from an afterthought of Washington leaders to the world’s most watched and pleaded-with man”, said The Washington Post. “Having complained for years about being ignored”, he has “reconstituted Russian military might to force the globe to reckon with his interests” – transforming Moscow into a power broker with international influence.

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