Putin hovers between Russian and 'Eurasian' aims

Significance

Putin has alternated between this limited war aim and a desire for the total conquest of Ukraine. These seemingly incompatible aims stem from different nationalist traditions, one concerned about restoring the Soviet empire in all but name, the other a narrower focus on a 'Russian world'.

Impacts

• There is little evidence that Eurasian or pan-Russian ideas hold profound appeal for Russian voters.
• The logic of the 'Russian world' will dictate the erosion of Ukrainian culture from occupied lands.
• Talk of protecting fellow-Russians must be a continuing concern in the Baltic states, Kazakhstan and Belarus too.