World leaders rarely publish their visions of current affairs in the form of essays, but President Vladimir Putin developed a habit since returning to the Kremlin in 2012. His latest treatise, “On the Historical Unity of Russians and Ukrainians,” stands out among his other works representing this vast body of literature. Instead of submitting it to a Russian or Western media platform (German Die Zeit was the most recent periodical), he published it directly on the Kremlin website, explaining further that this “analytical material” was “more than just an article” (Kremlin.ru, July 13). The lengthy historical narrative is as selective with its facts and contains as little actual truth as most of Putin’s previous writings on contested historical subjects; but it is the political message that is supposed to be clear-cut (Meduza, July 14). Putin aims to address several key audiences simultaneously, and the sum total of these mixed messages is convoluted and disconcerting.
Russia's War Against Ukraine
OP-ED
Pavel Baev: Putin’s fixation on Ukraine is demagogic, dangerous
Russian President Vladimir Putin stands on a boat during trip on the Black Sea with his Belarusian counterpart on May 29, 2021, as the close allies met for a second day for informal talks amidst the outcry after Minsk diverted a European plane.
