Russian President and presidential candidate Vladimir Putin addresses the crowd during a rally and a concert celebrating the 10th anniversary of Russia’s annexation of Crimea at Red Square in Moscow on March 18, 2024.
Natalia Kolesnikova | Afp | Getty Images
It was among the least surprising political events so far this year, but Vladimir Putin’s reelection to a fifth term in office comes at a time of geopolitical and economic uncertainty for Russia, prompting questions as to what we can expect from another six years of the Russian strongman’s leadership.
With Putin winning the vote by a huge margin, according to the Kremlin and its the Central Election Commission, the 2024 Russian election aimed to demonstrate that Russian society was “consolidated” around the president and that his domestic and foreign policies had the blessing of Russians both within the country and in its claimed “new” territories illegally annexed from Ukraine, as well as abroad.
That message was meant to be encapsulated neatly in the “landslide” 87% of voters that elected him, according to the electoral authorities, and the “record-breaking, unprecedented” voter turnout of 77.4%, up from 67.7% in 2018.
Analysts share their views on what we can expect now that Putin has strengthened his grip on power, with the Ukraine war, domestic economic reforms and a possible government reshuffle key factors to watch.
War footing
Russia’s strategy in the war in Ukraine will be a major focus for the Kremlin in the immediate and near-term future, analysts say, with Russia appearing to have a military advantage on the battlefield in recent months. The U.S. presidential election later this year, meanwhile, puts the future of military aid for Ukraine into doubt.
Russia could look to push home its advantage over the next year, sending more manpower to the front, although that could have ramifications back home.
“In his post-election speech on Sunday night, Putin said that the main goals of his next six years include…
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