Will Putin’s war lead to the collapse of Fortress Russia and the dream of a Russian World?

Russia’s war in Ukraine will reshape not only Ukraine, but also Russia itself. Although not even Russian experts predicted the present crisis, some trends had already become clear. When thinking about scenarios for a future Russia, a more isolated Fortress Russia was considered as one possible scenario.1 In this sense, Putin’s present actions could be perceived as long in the making, although other choices could have been made. The crucial element in the Kremlin’s decision to invade Ukraine seems to have been its imperial dream of recreating a unified Russian World.

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