Vladimir Putin News
The Daily Signal provides reporting on Putin’s role in Russian aggression, war strategy, and his influence on U.S.–Russia relations, NATO, and international security.
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- Opinion
How US, Allies Should Counter Putin’s Threats to Ukraine
Vladimir Putin has never been averse to taking risks—especially those that make him look stronger at home, while undermining the confidence and solidarity of the West. Now, with unrest in his backyard, Europe preoccupied with COVID-19, and a U.S. president who looks disengaged and distracted, Putin appears to be on the prowl again. This time, in his old hunting ground: Ukraine. An unprecedented military buildup…James Carafano -
- Opinion
Biden Accurately Pegs Putin as a Killer
President Joe Biden indisputably got the attention of his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. It turns out Putin is a little thin-skinned about being called a soulless killer. Who would have known? In an interview with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos, Biden recounted one of his many stories of bravura, this time during a meeting in Putin’s Kremlin…Helle Dale -
- Opinion
Corruption in Putin’s Russia Thrives While Economic Freedom Dies
As Alexis Mrachek of The Heritage Foundation has reported, Russian protesters have taken to the streets in recent weeks to express widespread anger and frustration with ongoing corruption in their country. Coincident with Alexei Navalny’s arrest and conviction by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s police state on trumped-up charges, allies of the opposition leader released a…James M. Roberts -
- News
Ukraine’s Zelenskyy Pivots Back to Peace Talks With Russia’s Putin
KYIV, Ukraine—As Ukraine’s coronavirus lockdown incrementally winds down, Kyiv is pivoting its focus back to ending the war in the eastern Donbas region, where Ukrainian troops have held a Russian invasion force at bay since spring 2014. At a press conference last week to mark his first year in office, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made…Nolan Peterson -
- Opinion
Why Putin’s Government Just Resigned
On Wednesday, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev announced that he and his government were resigning to allow for new constitutional changes by President Vladimir Putin. The announcement was completely unexpected, and yet the outlook for Russia’s future looks the way many have expected. Putin has been in power for 20 years and will probably continue…Alexis Mrachek -
- News
In Round 1 of Ukraine Peace Talks, Zelenskyy Holds His Own With Putin
KYIV, Ukraine—These days, it gets dark around 4 p.m. here in Ukraine’s capital city. The leaves are all gone from the trees, and the skies are often gray. The Dnieper River hasn’t iced over yet. However, about 400 miles southeast of Kyiv in Ukraine’s embattled Donbas region, the front lines of Europe’s only ongoing land…Nolan Peterson -
- Opinion
What Putin Really Wants
Military aggression is no surprise coming from Russia—it’s what Russia’s been doing for generations. But Americans might be surprised to learn the motivations behind that aggression. What’s going through Putin’s mind when he invades Crimea and wages war in eastern Ukraine? Today, we address those questions and more with Nolan Peterson, who is The Daily…Daniel Davis -
- News
Diplomat: Poland Doesn’t View Trump as Cozy With Putin
From the perspective of a country counting itself as the “best barometer” of concern about Russia’s aggression, President Donald Trump is anything but soft on the government of Vladimir Putin, a top Polish official in the U.S. says. Trump pledged last month to put 2,000 more U.S. troops in Poland, at a time when that…Fred Lucas -
- Opinion
Putin Just Attacked Ukraine’s Sovereignty Yet Again
Just 72 hours after the election of former actor and comedian Volodymyr Zelenskiy as Ukraine’s next president, Russian President Vladimir Putin has given him his first geopolitical challenge. Putin signed a decree on Wednesday stating that those who live in the parts of Ukraine’s Donetsk and Luhansk regions that are currently controlled by Moscow-backed separatists…Luke Coffey -
- News
Ukraine’s New President-Elect Stands Up to Putin
KYIV, Ukraine—Less than a week after he won Ukraine’s presidential election, 41-year-old comedian Volodymyr Zelensky proved he has the chops to stand up to Russian President Vladimir Putin on the world stage. Putin signed a decree on April 24 that expedited Russian passport applications for Ukrainians living in the two war-torn, Russian-sponsored breakaway territories in…Nolan Peterson -
- Opinion
How Putin Uses Russian Orthodoxy to Grow His Empire
When Vladimir Putin rose to the presidency of Russia in 2000, he inherited the remains of a once-fearsome communist-atheist imperial state. In the intervening 19 years, he has transformed Russia back into an imperial power with global ambitions. One of his key tools in that transformation has been the Russian Orthodox Church. Putin often invokes…Shane McCrum -
- News
Trump Cancels Meeting With Putin as US, UK Back Ukraine in Wake of Russia’s Naval Attack
KYIV, Ukraine—Ukraine got a valuable boost Thursday from its Western allies when ambassadors from the U.S. and Britain both condemned Russia’s seizure of three Ukrainian navy vessels and pledged their countries would do more to build up Ukraine’s naval forces. “We call on Russia to de-escalate the tension that Russia has created,” U.S. Ambassador to…Nolan Peterson -
- Opinion
Why Russia’s Latest Aggression Against Ukraine Could Be Aimed at Boosting Putin’s Sagging Approval Ratings
Russian Federal Security Service border patrol boats opened fire Nov. 25 on three Ukrainian maritime vessels—two navy artillery ships and a tugboat—in a standoff in the Kerch Strait, a narrow body of water connecting the Black Sea and Azov Sea. Russia struck two of the vessels and wounded six crew members in the process. The…Alexis Mrachek -
- Opinion
The Left’s Unhinged Opposition to Trump Plays Into Putin’s Hands
Last week, The Washington Post published an op-ed headlined “It’s not wrong to compare Trump’s America to the Holocaust.” As with similar examples of this genre, it’s a sickening display of moral relativism that belittles the suffering and murder of millions in the service of some shortsighted and crass partisan fearmongering. Elsewhere, Politico published an…David Harsanyi -
- News
Conservative Lawmakers Say Trump’s Actions, Not Words, Key in Dealings With Putin
Conservative lawmakers say President Donald Trump’s strong actions, rather than his ill-chosen words, should speak to his foreign policy strategy for Russia. “All of the comments this president has made, the press harps on that one comment, and like my other colleagues have said, it’s what he’s done,” Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., said Tuesday of…Rachel del Guidice -
- Opinion
Podcast: Conservative Lawmakers Weigh in on Trump’s Meeting, Press Conference With Putin
Conservative House members sounded off on the President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin meeting and press conference, and we feature their comments, made today in an event co-hosted by The Heritage Foundation, on the podcast. Plus: A group is asking Congress to stop airplanes from making seats any smaller.Katrina Trinko -
- Opinion
Podcast: Trump, Putin, and the US-Russia Relationship
The Heritage Foundation’s Peter Brookes joins us to discuss the meeting between President Donald Trump and Russia’s Vladimir Putin and what should happen next. Plus: The University of Minnesota considers a policy that could lead to expulsion for students who don’t use others’ preferred gender pronouns.Katrina Trinko -
- News
Trump Not Clear on Whether He Believes Putin or US Intelligence on Election Meddling
Russian President Vladimir Putin offered Monday to allow special counsel Robert Mueller’s team to come to Russia to observe questioning of 12 Russian intelligence officials Mueller indicted for allegedly interfering in the election—with a condition. “I think that the United States has been foolish. I think that we’ve all been foolish. We should have had…Fred Lucas -
- News
Indictments of 12 Russians Hit Ahead of Trump-Putin Meeting
President Donald Trump, at a joint news conference Friday with British Prime Minister Theresa May in Britain, previewed his upcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Hours later in Washington, the Justice Department announced the indictment of 12 Russians on charges of attempting to interfere with the 2016 U.S. presidential election. But Deputy Attorney General…Fred Lucas -
- Opinion
What to Know Ahead of the Trump-Putin Summit
On July 16, President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet for their first formal bilateral summit in Helsinki, Finland. Expectations should be kept at a minimum. The U.S. and Russia have conflicting interests when it comes to many of the major geopolitical issues of the day, and this is unlikely to change…Alexis Mrachek