A key stalwart of global geopolitics, Russia’s long-serving president Vladimir Putin, as of August 2024, his activities and decisions continue to shape not only the future of Russia but also that country’s international relations, most pointedly with regard to ongoing events in Ukraine — as well as other aspects determined by its internal political situation or its relationship vis-à-vis neighboring countries and the West.
Diplomatic Activities in the Week Under Review
The recent highlight was when Putin paid a state visit to Azerbaijan from the 18th of August till the 19th of August in 2024. This visit firmly placed Russia in its role of continuing to install dominion over the strategically located and historically under Russian control of the South Caucasus region. During the visit, Putin discussed deepening energy, security and regional stability cooperation within a strategic partnership framework between Moscow and Baku. Part of the talks reportedly lined current worldwide and regional issues, particularly emphasising tensions in Nagorno-Karabakh.
And, not least of all among them is the renewed focus by Putin on cementing alliances or partnerships with countries central to his regional strategy, given Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine and the isolation that followed from its being drawn back into a Western sea.
Read Ukraine’s Advance into Russia: The Worst-Case Scenario for Vladimir Putin
Ongoing Conflict in Ukraine
Ukraine continues to be a dire challenge for Putin and his team. By August 2024, the war was in its third year, and there seemed to be no end on the horizon. In a series of Putin statements, the Kremlin has returned to talking about military goals, encouraging Russia never to give way when it comes to defending its sovereignty against “Western aggression.”
In recent speeches, Putin has only sharpened the message that Russia is at war for its very existence as a nation and framed it as defensive against NATO expansion. The rhetoric is designed to appeal for support at home – primarily as the country heads into a presidential race in 2024, which Putin could seek to run in but still wants untampered up polls.
The situation on the ground is still delicate, with Russian troops engaged in fierce fighting along the eastern Ukrainian front lines–not least strategic locales Donetsk and Luhansk. Conversely, the Ukrainian counteroffensive has been relatively successful, adding another layer to the military and political picture.
Read: Russia’s Internal Politics in the Run-Up to 2024
At home, Putin is trying to ensure his ability to rule beyond 2024. Putin remains unassailably entrenched, with the conflict still simmering and international sanctions weighing heavily on his country. Russian state media continues to cast him as an important, influential leader who can steer the country through instability, and dissenting voices remain quelled.
Many see the next election as a mere formality, and Putin is expected to win through his grip on politics and media. However, the election will still measure public attitudes in an atmosphere of war and economic deprivation.
Economic Downturns and Sanctions
Meanwhile, the Russian economy is still struggling massively with deep sanctions from Western nations. The sanctions slapped on Russia over the past year have focused primarily on the most significant impact sectors: oil and gas, finance, and high technology—aiming to hobble Russian capacity for doing things relevant to fighting a war or maintaining economic stability. Yet he has kept Russia’s recession-wracked economy more or less afloat through more robust trade with non-Western markets such as China and India, further hardening his grip on domestic assets.
Rajapaksa cannot avoid confronting the mortal dilemma of how to sustain the economy in an economically ideal way; otherwise, it seems unlikely—if not impossible. To stave off further decline, Putin’s government must deal with critical concerns like inflation and the exodus of skilled workers brought on by reduced foreign investment.
Foreign Relations and Worldwide Influence
For part, Putin has sent massive waves through the international community. Diplomatic channels are primarily frozen, and each party is using economic sanctions against the other, with relations between Russia and Western nations at their lowest since the end of the Cold War. In response, Russia under Putin has strengthened relations with various global powers (China in the first place) and sought new allies in addition to Africa and Latin America.
Putin adopted a strategy of resilience or waiting for the West out, hoping that economic and political pressures would eventually break down Western unity, creating a more favourable negotiating space for Russia.
Conclusion
In August 2024, Vladimir Putin was still the man who affected global events inside his fortress. The conflict in Ukraine, leadership and alliance building regionally, and the future of Russia with its upcoming presidential election are all critical developments related to that uncertainty regarding their international identity. Putin is at the beginning of the end. Still, Russia would see that differently: For now, his power seems secure even though prospects for stability and clarity on international markets or global situations seem dim.
