Vladimir Putin

List of Vladimir Putin articles

An illustration shows Russian President Vladimir Putin on a television set with spinning lines behind him for a story about Russia's TV propaganda.
An illustration shows Russian President Vladimir Putin on a television set with spinning lines behind him for a story about Russia's TV propaganda.

A Day Inside Putin’s Surreal Television Empire

How the nonstop blare of Russian state media fuels the war effort—and blurs reality.

A man wears a mask depicting Russian President Vladimir Putin wearing makeup, during the 19th edition of the 'Belgian Pride' event, a gathering of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, on May 17, 2014 in Brussels.
A man wears a mask depicting Russian President Vladimir Putin wearing makeup, during the 19th edition of the 'Belgian Pride' event, a gathering of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, on May 17, 2014 in Brussels.

Homophobia Is Part of Putin’s War Plan

Why anti-gay propaganda has been part of Russia’s strategy against Ukraine from the start.

Children attend an official initiation ceremony for the youth organization Young Pioneers in Moscow's Red Square.
Children attend an official initiation ceremony for the youth organization Young Pioneers in Moscow's Red Square.

Russia’s Frighteningly Fascist Youth

A new generation of Russians glorifies war, death, and Vladimir Putin.

russia-books-war-resistance-ukraine-1984-nazis-foreign-policy-cathryn-virginia-illusration-site
russia-books-war-resistance-ukraine-1984-nazis-foreign-policy-cathryn-virginia-illusration-site

For Russians, Reading Is the New Resistance

What bestselling books tell us about how Russians are processing the war.

Graves of mercenaries recruited by the Wagner group and killed during Russia's war in Ukraine are seen covered in flowers at the Beloostrovsky cemetery in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Graves of mercenaries recruited by the Wagner group and killed during Russia's war in Ukraine are seen covered in flowers at the Beloostrovsky cemetery in St. Petersburg, Russia.

For Russians, It’s the Wild 1990s All Over Again

Overflowing graveyards and other parallels signal a threat to Vladimir Putin’s rule.

A Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jet is seen at the International Military-Technical Forum "Army 2022" in Moscow on Aug. 18, 2022.
A Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jet is seen at the International Military-Technical Forum "Army 2022" in Moscow on Aug. 18, 2022.

What the Russia-Iran Arms Deals Mean for the Middle East

Moscow’s weapons could sabotage the spirit of reconciliation rippling through the region.

Families are reunited with their children in Kyiv.
Families are reunited with their children in Kyiv.

The Kids Aren’t Alright

Kyiv says more than 16,000 Ukrainian children have been taken to Russia. This is the story of a few who made it home.

A picture shows a funeral ceremony for a fallen Russian soldier at a cemetery in Bogoroditsk, Russia.
A picture shows a funeral ceremony for a fallen Russian soldier at a cemetery in Bogoroditsk, Russia.

Casualties Won’t Topple Putin

But they will make his job much more difficult.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping make a toast at the Kremlin in Moscow on March 21.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping make a toast at the Kremlin in Moscow on March 21.

China’s ‘Peace Plan’ for Ukraine Isn’t About Peace

Beijing’s diplomatic overture has three ulterior motives.

A Ukrainian special forces soldier stands in front of a burning gas station after Russian attacks in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on March 30, 2022.
A Ukrainian special forces soldier stands in front of a burning gas station after Russian attacks in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on March 30, 2022.

How to Benchmark Victory in Ukraine

Western vagueness about war aims is creating a risky vacuum for the Kremlin to exploit.

U.S. Marines land in Cuba
U.S. Marines land in Cuba

The U.S. Should Get Over Its Short War Obsession

No one wants long, grueling wars—but the consequences of impatience can be worse.

Xi and Putin shake hands while carrying red folders.
Xi and Putin shake hands while carrying red folders.

Xi and Putin Have the Most Consequential Undeclared Alliance in the World

It’s become more important than Washington’s official alliances today.

Retired Air Force Gen. Philip Breedlove (R), former NATO supreme allied commander Europe and former commander of the U.S. European Command, testifies at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on the U.S.-Russian relationship in Washington, D.C.
Retired Air Force Gen. Philip Breedlove (R), former NATO supreme allied commander Europe and former commander of the U.S. European Command, testifies at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on the U.S.-Russian relationship in Washington, D.C.

Is the West Falling for Putin’s Nuclear Rhetoric?

Philip Breedlove, a former supreme allied commander for NATO, says policymakers are falling for Putin’s nuclear rhetoric.

Young men walk in front of a billboard promoting Russian army service.
Young men walk in front of a billboard promoting Russian army service.

Putin’s War on Young People

Almost unnoticed, a generation of Russians has come of age during his 23 years in power.

Russian President Vladimir Putin looks on during a meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow on April 20, 2022.
Russian President Vladimir Putin looks on during a meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow on April 20, 2022.

Don’t Trust Russia’s Numbers

Moscow has made economic statistics a central part of its information war.

People walk past a Kremlin star bearing the letter Z.
People walk past a Kremlin star bearing the letter Z.

Staring Down the Black Hole of Russia’s Future

A Ukrainian victory may be the country’s only chance at long-term salvation.

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Turkey’s Balancing Act Between Putin and the West

Turkey’s marriage of convenience with Russia may give President Recep Tayyip Erdogan what he needs to win upcoming elections.

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks to Chinese President Xi Jinping during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on Sept. 16, 2022.
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks to Chinese President Xi Jinping during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on Sept. 16, 2022.

China’s Ukraine Peace Plan Is Actually About Taiwan

Beijing’s phony proposal lays bare its conditions for winning an East Asian war.

Members of Bosnia's joint armed forces (OSBiH) take a part in military exercise as the army marks its 16th anniversary on Nov. 30, 2021 in Rajlovac, near Sarajevo, Bosnia.
Members of Bosnia's joint armed forces (OSBiH) take a part in military exercise as the army marks its 16th anniversary on Nov. 30, 2021 in Rajlovac, near Sarajevo, Bosnia.

NATO Needs to Welcome Bosnia Before It’s Too Late

With pro-Russian actors on the rise, the window of opportunity is closing.

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a concert marking Defender of the Fatherland Day at Luzhniki stadium in Moscow on Feb. 22.
Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a concert marking Defender of the Fatherland Day at Luzhniki stadium in Moscow on Feb. 22.

Russia Sanctions: 10 Lessons and Questions for What Comes Next

What has the West learned from one year of unprecedented economic sanctions?

Loading graphics

Welcome to a world of insight.

Make the most of FP.

Explore the benefits of your FP subscription. Explore the benefits included in your subscription.

Stay updated on the topics you care about with email alerts. Sign up below. Stay updated on the topics you care about with email alerts. Sign up below.

Choose a few newsletters that interest you. Get more insight in your inbox.

Here are some we think you might like. Update your newsletter preferences.

  • World Brief thumbnail
  • Africa Brief thumbnail
  • Latin America Brief thumbnail
  • China Brief thumbnail
  • South Asia Brief thumbnail
  • Situation Report thumbnail

Keep up with the world without stopping yours. Keep up with the world without stopping yours.

Download the FP mobile app to read anytime, anywhere. Download the new FP mobile app to read anytime, anywhere.

Download on the App Store
  • Read the magazine
  • Save articles (and read offline)
  • Customize your feed
  • Listen to FP podcasts
Download on the Apple App Store
Download on the Google Play Store

Analyze the world’s biggest events. Analyze the world’s biggest events.

Join in-depth conversations and interact with foreign-policy experts with Join in-depth conversations and interact with foreign-policy experts with