Warum Putin nicht aufhören wird

Die Ukraine steht vor dem fünften Kriegswinter. Schafft es Kiew neuerlich, die russischen Angriffe zu überstehen? Und wie realistisch sind die Bemühungen um Frieden in diesem Konflikt? In dieser Folge des „ZIB erklärt“ Podcasts ist der Militärökonom Markus Keupp zu Gast.

Redaktion: Stefan Lenglinger
Kamera: Marcel Darwish
Schnitt: Nicolas Hofbauer

Putin’s ‘Stuck in a Dangerous Place’ as Ukraine Scorches Russian Economy | Bill Browder

Oct 20, 2026 | “The Ukrainians have a way of fighting back to scorch his economy.”

Putin is “stuck” in a “dangerous place” as he finds himself fighting against a resilient and adaptive Ukraine, says Sir William Browder.

You have been watching Frontline, with Kate Gerbeau, Philip Ingram, Louis Sykes and Laura Martinez-Williams, produced by Times Radio.

Trump’s Push for Deals With Russia Powers His Frustration With Ukraine

THE NEW YORK TIMES: The series of recent steps by the president that seem to favor Vladimir Putin reflect his intensifying desire to normalize the relationship with Moscow even if it means further undercutting Ukraine.

President Trump with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine at Mar-a-Lago in December. Credit: Tierney L. Cross/The New York Times
He shunted aside a bipartisan law, signed just weeks ago, imposing new tariffs on Russia. He cut a deal to purchase diesel from Moscow. His negotiators agreed on the vague outlines of a deal for much of Lukoil, a battered Russian energy firm. And he called for the replacement of President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, whose success in taking the fight inside Russia deeply frustrates him.

President Trump’s intensifying effort in the past few weeks to rehabilitate Russia and usher President Vladimir V. Putin back into diplomatic society is remarkable for its speed, its characterization of Mr. Zelensky as the primary obstacle to peace, and its brazen denial that Russia is continuing the war that Mr. Trump says he is trying to end.

“Russia, frankly, has been fine on Ukraine,” Mr. Trump said on Monday, speaking to reporters outside the White House as he left for a campaign rally. “They haven’t been doing much,” he said, making no mention of the Russian missiles and jet-powered drones that have been targeting apartment buildings in Kyiv and Ukraine’s surviving electricity grid.


Mr. Trump’s disdain for Mr. Zelensky is hardly new. Nor is his willingness to give the benefit of the doubt to Mr. Putin, for whom he has often expressed respect and even admiration.

But what is different now is Mr. Trump’s increased determination to force a deal on Mr. Zelensky, telling him that holding out to retain occupied portions of the country’s eastern provinces is not worth it — and that there is money to be made for Ukraine, as well, if it would only drop its objections to an accord, even one written largely on Russia’s terms. » | David E. Sanger | David E. Sanger has covered five American presidents in over four decades at the Times. He often writes about the re-emergence of superpower conflict, the subject of his most recent book. | Monday, October 18, 2026

What a disreputable bloody man the West is being led by! Trump is totally and utterly without honour. But that’s not all; it gets even worse: As we all know, he is also incompetent, self-enriching, greedy, corrupt, cruel, megalomaniacal, lacking in compassion, and much else negative besides. He is everything the West doesn’t need to lead it. Moreover, in Trump, we find all the worst that is to be found in American society: greed, self-love, lack of restraint, lack of principle, and an insatiable desire and drive for profit and money. ‘Gimme more, more, more! Gimme all you got! I wan’ it all!’

Trump went into politics with the express desire to enrich himself. He couldn’t give a tinker’s toss about the welfare of his country or its people. What Trump cares about is his bottom line: profit. He struggled to make it in business, but by God he found a cash cow in American politics. All he had to be was bent; and that comes as second nature to Trump. So, no problem there!

But let us be fair to the man... his father left him only in excess of $413m (adjusted for inflation). How could he possibly have been expected to get by with such a paltry sum of money? He was almost forced to find another very profitable pursuit in his dotage! After all, prices are high in America, and you must to keep up with them if your lifestyle is to be maintained adequately.

The man I feel sorry for is Volodymyr Zelenksyy. He has a major problem on his hands. Spare a thought for that brave man, our hero. He’s got not only ONE SHITBAG to deal with; but TWO: Trump and Putin! Just imagine!

May the Good Lord bless Zelenskyy with strength, wisdom, and continued fortitude. He needs all the help he can get, all the support. The decent world must stick with him. Slava Ukraini! (Glory to Ukraine!) — © Mark Alexander

The Conditions of a Third World War Have Already Been Met | Volodymyr Yelchenko

Oct 16, 2026 | “I'm trying to put it correctly, we are already living, under conditions of the Third World War. It is simply very different from the second and the first.”

Donald Trump doesn’t realise the “full extent” of the damage he could cause if he continues with his current stance on Ukraine, says former Ukrainian ambassador to the US and Russia Volodymyr Yelchenko.

U.S.-Russia Talks on Ukraine Now Involve an Oil Deal Tied to Trump Allies

THE NEW YORK TIMES: President Vladimir V. Putin brought up a sale of Russian energy assets with President Trump’s envoys, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, pushing a deal that raises new questions about conflicts of interest.

The Trump administration’s talks with Russia about ending the war in Ukraine have expanded to include a multibillion-dollar oil deal that would benefit Middle Eastern business executives with ties to the two main U.S. negotiators, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

The deal, which is contingent on approval from the U.S. government and the Kremlin, is for a sprawling set of oil fields, refineries and gas stations around the world owned by Lukoil, one of Russia’s biggest energy companies.

The leading group seeking the deal includes an American investor, Todd Boehly, who has donated $2 million to President Trump’s political causes; two Middle Eastern groups that have done business with Mr. Kushner or Mr. Witkoff’s family; and an arm of the U.S. government itself.

The monthslong negotiations, which were described by eight people familiar with them, shed new light on Mr. Trump’s latest approach to settling a four-year war that has killed hundreds of thousands. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the negotiations. » | Anton Troianovski and Eric Lipton | Reporting from Washington | Saturday, October 3, 2026

LESEN SIE AUCH:

Ölfelder, Tankstellen, Raffinerien: Putin soll Trump-Unterhändlern Lukoil-Deal angeboten haben: An dem möglichen Käuferkonsortium sind laut einem Bericht ein milliardenschwerer Trump-Spender, Investoren aus Katar und Abu Dhabi sowie eine US-Entwicklungsbank beteiligt. »

Ukrainian Drones Hit St Petersburg as ‘Russian Davos’ Opens in City

THE GUARDIAN: Energy and military sites targeted as guests gather for economic forum where Putin is due to speak on Friday

Ukrainian drones hit energy and military sites in St Petersburg early on Wednesday hours before international guests gathered for the city’s flagship economic forum, in a blow to Vladimir Putin.

Several long-range drones crashed into oil storage facilities after Russian air defences tried unsuccessfully to shoot them down. There were loud explosions and black smoke rose high above the city from the blazing oil terminal.

The St Petersburg’s governor, Alexander Beglov, said the Kirovsky and Krasnoselsky districts were targeted. Ukraine also struck the Kronstadt naval base and shipyard in Leningrad oblast, the port home to Russia’s Baltic fleet. Vessels were reportedly damaged.

The strikes will be deeply embarrassing for the Kremlin, taking place about 10 miles from the forum, where Putin is due to make a keynote speech on Friday. Guests arrived for Wednesday’s opening ceremony under a pall of thick smoke. Others were unable to fly in after St Petersburg’s airport was temporarily closed.

About 20,000 visitors from 130 countries are expected to attend the three-day annual summit, which has been described as Russia’s answer to Davos. They include the former German chancellor Gerhard Schröder, the far-right American influencer Candace Owens and the Tate brothers. » | Luke Harding, Pjotr Sauer and agencies | Wednesday, June 3, 2026

Jeffrey Sachs an Bundeskanzler Merz: Verhindern Sie offenen Krieg mit Russland!

BERLINER ZEITUNG : Der Ökonom und Diplomat Jeffrey Sachs fordert Bundeskanzler Merz auf, mit Russlands Präsident Putin unverzüglich Gespräche über Frieden in Europa zu beginnen. Der Brief im Wortlaut.

Dieser Screenshot stammt aus diesem Artikel der Berliner Zeitung. | Jeffrey Sachs, hier beim Antalya Diplomacy Forum 2025 in der Türkei, warnt vor einem Krieg in Europa und der Zerstörung der deutschen Wirtschaft. | © IMAGO/Emin Sansar
Offener Brief an Bundeskanzler Friedrich Merz

Sehr geehrter Herr Bundeskanzler Merz,

als ich Ihnen vor einem halben Jahr einen offenen Brief schrieb, habe ich an Deutschland appelliert, die Diplomatie gegenüber Russland zu suchen, anstatt den Krieg zu normalisieren. Sechs Monate später hat sich die Lage in Europa dramatisch verschlechtert. Europa und Russland schlittern in einen offenen Krieg. In dieser Situation tragen Sie, Herr Bundeskanzler, eine einzigartige Verantwortung. Kein anderer europäischer Staats- und Regierungschef – weder in Paris, noch in Warschau, noch in Rom – verfügt über das Gewicht Deutschlands oder hat die Macht, die Sie persönlich besitzen, diese Katastrophe zu verhindern. Werden Sie sich für den Frieden einsetzen?

Sie selbst forderten im Januar 2026 gemeinsam mit Premierminister Meloni und Präsident Macron die Wiederaufnahme der Beziehungen Europas zu Russland und bezeichneten Russland als „ein europäisches Land“. Dennoch haben Sie die Diplomatie nicht verfolgt. Angesichts der Zukunft Europas, die auf dem Spiel steht, ist dies ein beispielloser Verzicht auf Ihre Führungsrolle. Haben Sie in Ihrer Zeit als Bundeskanzler auch nur einen einzigen substanziellen Dialog mit Präsident Putin versucht? Hat Ihr Außenminister jemals einen substanziellen Dialog mit Außenminister Lawrow versucht? Echte Gespräche, so wie jene, die den Kalten Krieg beendeten? Soweit die öffentlichen Aufzeichnungen belegen, lautet die Antwort: Nein. Nicht ein einziges Mal. Und nicht etwa, weil die Dringlichkeit nicht erkannt worden wäre. Lesen Sie den Brief weiter » | Michael Maier Jeffrey Sachs | Mittwoch, 27. Mai 2026

Face à l’Occident, Xi Jinping et Vladimir Poutine affichent un partenariat énergétique « sans limites »

LE FIGARO : DÉCRYPTAGE - Le président russe a promu un projet de gazoduc lors de sa visite à Pékin. Un atout pour échapper au blocage du détroit d’Ormuz, malgré les divergences d’intérêts entre les deux pays sur le conflit en Iran.

Visage poupon, un jeune Vladimir Poutine pose avec un garçonnet asiatique face aux eaux turbides du lac Beihai, lors de sa première visite en Chine, en 2000. Un quart de siècle plus tard, un président russe aux traits émaciés a retrouvé l’enfant devenu ingénieur joufflu, ce 20 mai, à Pékin, en marge de sa visite auprès de son « cher ami » Xi Jinping, sur les pas de Donald Trump. Des retrouvailles nostalgiques avec ce diplômé de l’université de Moscou, mises en avant par la presse russe pour souligner l’ancienneté des liens tissés entre Poutine et l’empire du Milieu, où le chef du Kremlin a effectué sa vingt-cinquième visite, quelques jours après celle du président américain.

Alors que le régime communiste orchestre une timide détente avec l’Amérique, la Russie est venue serrer les rangs auprès d’un géant asiatique plus indispensable que jamais à son effort de guerre face à l’Ukraine. Les relations russo-chinoises ont atteint des « hauteurs sans précédent », malgré des « facteurs extérieurs défavorables », s’est félicité Poutine, sous les ors staliniens du Grand Hall du peuple. Son ambition est d’approfondir entre les deux pays le « partenariat sans limites » sur le plan énergétique, alors que l’offensive américaine contre l’Iran perturbe les approvisionnements de l’usine du Monde. » | Par Sébastien Falletti, correspondant en Asie | mercredi 20 mai 2026

Réservé aux abonnés

« Cette visite témoigne de la solidité de l’axe russo-chinois » : après la venue de Donald Trump, Vladimir Poutine vient resserrer les liens avec Xi Jinping

Cette image est extraite de cet article du Figaro. | Vladimir Poutine et Xi Jinping lors du sommet de coopération de Shanghai, le 1er septembre 2025. SUO TAKEKUMA / AFP
LE FIGARO : DÉCRYPTAGE - Le voyage du président russe vise à afficher la ténacité de son partenariat, mais trahit l’anxiété de Moscou face au récent rapprochement sino-américain.

À peine Air Force One envolé que la Chine déroule le tapis rouge pour l’Iliouchine de Vladimir Poutine, surnommé le « Kremlin volant », ce mardi 19 mai. Après avoir tenu tête à Donald Trump à Zhongnanhai la semaine dernière, Xi Jinping accueille dans la foulée son « vieil ami » russe, en position de force dans le triangle mouvant Washington-Moscou-Pékin, secoué par le Moyen-Orient.

Sur les pas du trublion de l’Amérique d’abord, cette visite d’État de deux jours vise à afficher la solidité du « partenariat sans limite » scellé face à l’Occident par les dirigeants en 2022, mais consacre aussi l’ascendant du géant chinois face à un Kremlin anxieux du pas de deux sino-américain.

Il s’agit de la vingt-cinquième visite en Chine de Poutine, a rappelé la diplomatie chinoise, pointant un déplacement presque de routine sous le signe la connivence stratégique entre deux dirigeants qui se sont rencontrés à plus de quarante reprises. Alors que Trump était le premier président américain à fouler le sol de l’empire du Milieu depuis près d’une décennie, son homologue russe était aux premières loges sur la place Tiananmen, à la droite de Xi, le 3 septembre dernier, lors d’un spectaculaire défilé de l’armée populaire de libération (APL), aux avant-postes d’un front anti-occidental. » | Par Sébastien Falletti correspondant en Asie | mardi 19 mai 2026

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The Ruble Crashes, the Stock Market Closes and Russia’s Economy Staggers under Sanctions.

THE NEW YORK TIMES: MOSCOW — The ruble cratered, the stock market froze and the public rushed to withdraw cash on Monday as Western sanctions kicked in and Russia awoke to uncertainty and fear over the rapidly spreading repercussions of President Vladimir V. Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.

As the day began, Russia’s currency lost as much as a quarter of its value within hours. Scrambling to stem the decline, the Russian Central Bank more than doubled its key interest rate, banned foreigners from selling Russian securities and ordered exporters to convert into rubles most of their foreign-currency revenues. It closed the Moscow stock exchange for the day because of the “developing situation.”

“The economic reality has, of course, changed,” the Kremlin’s spokesman, Dmitri S. Peskov, told reporters, announcing that Mr. Putin had called an emergency meeting with his top finance officials.

Even as Russian and Ukrainian delegations met for talks at the Belarus border, Moscow’s military offensive showed no sign of letting up, and the hectic moves offered the first signs that the sanctions imposed on Russia by the West over the weekend were shaking the foundations of Russia’s economy. The decisions by the United States, Britain and the European Union restricting the Russian Central Bank’s access to much of its $643 billion in foreign currency reserves have undone much of the Kremlin’s careful efforts to soften the impact of potential sanctions. » | Anton Troianovski | Ivan Nechepurenko contributed reporting. | Monday, February 28, 2022

If the West Wants to Hurt Putin, Could Saudi Arabia Do Its Dirty Work?

THE GUARDIAN – ECONOMICS BLOG: Europe depends on Russian oil and gas exports, so an embargo may not be practical. But there is another way to apply pressure

Russia is vulnerable to sanctions. Economic weakness caused the collapse of the Soviet Union a quarter of a century ago and – the self-enrichment of the oligarchs apart – not much has changed since. Energy exports to the rest of the world pay for imports of machines and consumer goods. The population is ageing and there has been little industrial diversification. » | Posted by Larry Elliott | Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Sanctions: Potential Economic Damage

Russian president Vladimir Putin has signed a treaty making
Crimea part of Russia.

BBC: Russia, already teetering on the edge of recession, has a lot to lose from any economic sanctions imposed by Europe and the US - as does Europe, experts say.

The tense stand-off between Russia and the West over Crimea and Ukraine has led to sanctions being imposed on members of the Russian elite by the EU and the US.

US president Barack Obama has signed an order enabling economic sanctions against sectors of the Russian economy, and EU leaders are meeting in Brussels to consider their options.

"Russia can lose immensely out of this," says Paul Ivan, an analyst at Brussels-based think tank the European Policy Centre. "They are much more dependent on the European economy than we are on them."

Over half of Russia's budget comes from gas and oil it sends to the EU, making it vulnerable to any economic sanctions involving fossil fuel exports, Mr Ivan says.

By contrast, around 25% of European Union gas comes from Russia.

EU member states are linked to gas supplies flowing from countries such as Norway, making them less vulnerable to fluctuations in supply from Russia. » | Friday, March 21, 2014

Ukraine On Verge of Collapse as Protests Rage

Members of the European Parliament are pressuring Ukraine's government to hold early elections - as a way out of the crisis that's gripped the country. Ukraine's government has said it could renegotiate the terms of the association deal, if Europe provides more money. The sides met in Brussels and agreed to discuss a new roadmap towards a possible deal. While in Kiev, anti-government protesters continue to defy the authorities, blocking the city centre with barricades and suspending the work of government institutions. And as RT's Aleksey Yaroshevsky reports, it's not only causing chaos in the streets but also taking a toll on the country's economy.