Vladimir Putin has officially begun his fifth presidential term, but Western nations were notably absent from his inauguration. While critics saw the boycott as a snub, Moscow shrugged it off. \"We don’t do elections to please the West,\" said Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, doubling down on Russia’s growing independence from Western influence.
Cold War 2.0?
Putin signaled openness to dialogue with the West—but only \"on equal terms.\" Analysts say this reflects Russia’s pivot toward building alliances beyond NATO and the EU. With ties to Türkiye (a NATO member with shaky relations) and deepening cooperation with China, the Kremlin is betting big on a 'de-Westernized' world order.
Global Alliances Take Center Stage
From energy deals to tech partnerships, Russia is courting non-Western players to counterbalance U.S. dominance. China, in particular, has emerged as a key ally, with both nations challenging the dollar’s global role. Meanwhile, Türkiye’s Erdogan remains a wildcard—a strategic partner who’s still part of the Western military alliance.
As geopolitical tensions simmer, one thing’s clear: Putin’s Russia is playing the long game. Whether this reshapes the global power map? Stay tuned.
\"We don’t do elections to please the West,\" said Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, doubling down on Russia’s growing independence from Western influence.
