Putin has emerged from his third term stronger than ever, but it is unclear where he goes from here
That Vladimir Putin will be reelected has never been in doubt. What the Russian president’s fourth term, sometimes referred to as Putin 4.0, is likely to bring is a more open question.
The past six years have brought Russia into deepening conflict with the west. But Putin has emerged from his third term far stronger than he was in 2012, shoring up his image as a generational leader who has cowed all but his most committed opposition and taken steps to revive Russia’s greatness, with controversial moves such as the annexation of Crimea.
Paradoxically, the first order of business now, according to analysts and sources close to the Kremlin, is for Putin to set up an escape plan.
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Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- March 19, 2018
Vladimir Putin's landslide re-election: Leaders react and look forward -- DW
What Putin's Reelection Means for Russia and the World -- Nikolas K. Gvosdev, National Interest
After Putin's Historic Grand Slam, What's Next for Russia? -- Moscow Times
Why Putin is still – genuinely – popular in Russia -- John Lloyd, Reuters
Putin’s election: Russia’s strategic outlook -- Anna Scherbakova, Asia Times
Vladimir Putin's great deceit -- Ingo Mannteufel, DW
Saudi Arabia's powerful 32-year-old crown prince has arrived in America. Here's his agenda -- Tom DiChristopher, CNBC
Why Mohammed bin Salman is in the US -- Jillian Kestler-D'Amours, Al Jazeera
Saudi nukes on Chinese rockets? -- Uwe Parpart, Asia Times
US pushes on with NKorea summit prep, but what is Kim's plan? -- AFP
Will North Korea's Kim meet with Japanese PM Abe? -- Julian Ryall, DW
All aboard for Taiwan as US boosts support for Taipei -- Chris Taylor, Asia Times
If Trump will meet with Kim, why not Rouhani? -- Al-Monitor
America's Distracted Syria Policy Is on the Rocks -- Seth Frantzman, RCW
G-20 Meeting in Argentina Eclipsed by Potential Trade War -- Luis Andres Henao, US News and World Report/AP
