In the absence of military victories, experts say that Russia is annexing Ukrainian territory to try to undermine Western support for Ukraine
) is a risk. But by annexing Ukrainian territory, Putin is giving himself further justification for the mobilization—one that not only supports the continued invasion of Ukraine, but also defends Russia’s newly acquired sovereign territory.
In raising the stakes, however, Putin is also exposing the limits of Russia’s military prowess. Rapid mobilizations and rushed annexations are not the actions of a country, or a leader, that is in a position of strength. By annexing parts of Ukraine, and expanding the territories that Russia sees itself as obliged to defend, Putin is gambling that the world will see him as a leader with nothing to lose—and therefore not to be messed with.
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