Putin’s Power Play: Threatening West to Solidify Control Over Ukraine’s Future

Vladimir Putin is engaged in a major power play, using the threat of a wider war to solidify Russia’s control over Ukraine’s future. By vowing to attack any Western troops, he is attempting to deny Kyiv the ability to align itself with a Western security architecture.
The target of this power play is a French-led initiative to provide Ukraine with postwar security guarantees, including a military presence. This is seen by Ukraine as its best hope for sovereignty. For Putin, it represents an unacceptable loss of influence.
The strategy is to make the price of Western involvement too high. The threat of a direct military confrontation with Russia has already created deep divisions within the Western alliance, with several key members refusing to commit troops. This plays directly into Putin’s hands.
This power play is happening because the diplomatic track has failed. With no negotiated settlement on the horizon, the future of Ukraine is being determined by military strength and the willingness to take risks. Putin has made it clear he is willing to risk it all to achieve his objectives.