Vladimir Putin, accompanied by military personnel and their families, lights a candle at an Orthodox Christmas service, Moscow, Russia, January 7, 2026 (Vyacheslav Prokofyev/AP)
EA on War and Politics 24: Ukraine — Has Putin Overplayed His Hand Again?
I joined Times Radio’s Louis Sykes on Friday for a 24-minute deep dive into the current status of Russia’s 47 1/2-month full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
With Ukraine, Europe, and the US nearing agreement on security guarantees for Kyiv — just over two months after the Kremlin collaborated with Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner on an ultimatum to the Zelensky Government — I consider whether Vladimir Putin is running out of time and options in his quest to break the Ukrainians.
I review the political position, projecting that the agreed Ukraine-Europe-US documents will rejected by the Kremlin. I look at the state of Russia’s assault on the frontlines and in the air on Ukrainian civilians. And I consider the tightening economic constraints on Moscow.
Putin is not going to be able to show victory on the frontline, at least for the foreseeable future. He hasn’t been able to show victory in the air, because Ukraine continues to resist and endure the blackouts and heating cuts.
And, as Europe still supports Ukraine, he is not winning politically. So where is your victory going to come from, Mr Putin?
