President Vladimir Putin pulled through a landslide victory on Sunday thus cementing his already tightened grip on the Ukraine war. A former KGB lieutenant colonel, Putin, who first rose to power in 1999, made it clear that the results should send a message to the West that its leaders will have to reckon with an emboldened Russia, whether in war or in peace.
Putin won 87.8% of the vote, the highest ever result in Russia's post-Soviet history, according to an exit poll. The Russian Public Opinion Research Centre put Putin on 87%. First official results indicated the polls were accurate. The United States, Germany, the United Kingdom and other nations have said the vote was neither free nor fair due to the imprisonment of political opponents and censorship.
What does Putin’s re-election mean for Russia?
On Monday, Vladimir Putin, 71, was all set to embark on his new six-year term and in the process he will surpass Josef Stalin to become the country’s longest-serving leader for more than 200 years if Putin manages to complete his full term.
While Putin hailed the results as an indication of “trust” and “hope” in him, his critics had a field day.
“Of course, we have lots of tasks ahead. But I want to make it clear for everyone: When we were consolidated, no one has ever managed to frighten us, to suppress our will and our self-conscience. They failed in the past, and they will fail in the future,” Putin said after the polls were closed.
However, only Russians know it well that there will be the continuation of what already existed under Putin’s leadership. Public criticism of Putin or the war with Ukraine has been muzzled, independent media have been crippled and his fiercest political enemy, Alexy Navalny, died in an Arctic prison in February, and most critics are either in jail or in exile.
What does this win mean for Ukraine?
Putin in his victory speech had sent across a warning to the West about its involvement in Ukraine. He hinted that any direct conflict between Russia and the US-led NATO military alliance would mean a disaster which no one could afford. Did he hint at a Third World War?
Speaking on an apparent conflict between the possibility of a conflict between Russia and NATO,
Putin said, “Everything is possible in the modern world.”
“It is clear to everyone that this will be one step away from a full-scale World War Three. I think hardly anyone is interested in this,” Putin went on to say.
Putin, however, claimed that he was ready for a French proposal for ceasefire during the Olympics.
It may be noted last week he had dismissed any talk of putting a brake on the war which would allow Ukraine to rearm.
Also, it may be recalled that Russian elections were held without the presence of observers from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe to monitor the election. The OSCE said in January this was evidence that “democratic backsliding” had reached a critical point.
Where does Ukraine go from here?
Even as the West finds it hard to financially and militarily assist Ukraine, Putin's victory NOW means that he will be approaching full throttle on the Ukrainian war and ensure a win for Russia.
This was evident from what he had told the volunteers after the polls closed. He had said the poll results would allow the Russian society to consolidate and become stronger and this unity will help the country to "act effectively on the frontline". “Of course, we have lots of tasks ahead. But I want to make it clear for everyone: When we were consolidated, no one has ever managed to frighten us, to suppress our will and our self-conscience. They failed in the past and they will fail in the future,” Putin said.
“In general, the initiative is fully on the side of the Russian army. In some directions, our guys are butchering the enemy. We are advancing every day. Gradually, very delicately. But every day. This is a bit more than active defence. But we all see this anyway," he said during his remarks.
His statements reveal that the Russian aggression would certainly escalate in the war-torn Ukraine.
Putin's relations with Global South and India
Russia maintains positive relations with India, and Putin shared a friendly bond with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. PM Modi has even told Putin in a famous statement that "this is not an era". On several occasions, the Russian President has praised India's foreign policy and leadership under PM Modi.
Putin himself said the relations between India and Russia are developing progressively under all trajectories under PM Modi's guarantee. This budding relationship is expected to further bolster as Putin's rule extends till 2030.
With this win, Russia will also certainly position itself as a 'face of the Global South' by maintaining alliances with Hungary, Vietnam, Serbia, Turkey, Egypt and most importantly Beijing. After winning the elections, Putin on Sunday said that Russia's relations with China would become even stronger in the coming years. The war had also brought the (two) countries closer and China became Russia's biggest buyer in the energy sector, while Russia's reliance on Chinese products has grown manifold.
Looking back
Putin had never acknowledged that he started a war by invading Ukraine. Rather, he had said that he was forced to mount a “special military operation” to prevent the West from using Ukraine as a Trojan horse to undermine Russia.
He described the election turnout, reported at over 74% of more than 112 million registered voters, as “due to the fact that we are forced in the literal sense of the word, with weapons in our hands, to protect the interests of our citizens, our people.”
(The writer is a senior journalist and former Senior Associate Editor, O Heraldo, Goa)