Russian President Vladimir Putin is escalating diplomatic tensions with Ukraine and the US, threatening military action if Ukraine refuses territorial concessions. At the same time, Russia is leveraging international manipulation to apply pressure to its adversaries.
Putin accuses the West of starting the war, disregarding the role of Russian forces. The Russian leadership also proclaims plans to increase military capabilities, create “buffer zones” in occupied territories, and repeatedly claims control over certain cities—assertions not corroborated by independent sources.
The United Kingdom has demanded Russian businessman Roman Abramovich transfer £2 billion to aid Ukraine, warning of tough sanctions and legal actions otherwise. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has stressed the urgency of financial aid for Ukraine this week, as European leaders debate the allocation of frozen Russian assets.
In the oil market, dozens of Russian tankers are idle due to declining demand from India and China, anticipation of lower prices, and the effect of sanctions. This limits Russian revenue available for war funding.
Against the backdrop of global information warfare, Russian propaganda continues to utilize multimedia formats to promote its narratives, underlining the need for vigilance towards Russian content and its influence.
