Putin punishes Ukraine to avoid looking weak

April 28, 2022

Putin Punishes Ukraine To Avoid Looking Weak | GZERO World

Russia's war in Ukraine is clearly not going as Vladimir Putin planned.

His "special military operation" has become a punishment because he can't convert Ukrainians, says political scientist Ivan Krastev, author of "After Europe."

Meanwhile, he tells Ian Bremmer, on GZERO World, Putin's state media has convinced many Russians that they are really fighting the West — basically fighting Americans since the propaganda says Ukrainians are really Russians.

"This is why he cannot stop."

So, what comes next? Krastev believes Putin will escalate because he has the autocrat's curse: he cannot be perceived as weak.

From Your Site Articles

Hard Numbers: Judge orders temp shutdown of Alligator Alcatraz, Colombian violence spreading, Women’s Rugby World Cup begins, & More

Protesters line the street outside Alligator Alcatraz in Ochopee, Florida, holding signs during a vigil on Aug. 10, 2025.

USA TODAY Network

60: A federal judge gave the White House and the Florida state government 60 days to shut down “Alligator Alcatraz,” a controversial immigration detention center in the Florida Everglades that has become a symbol of US President Donald Trump’s severe immigration policies.

Putin punishes Ukraine to avoid looking weak

GZEROMEDIA

More from GZERO Media

What (or who) will replace USAID?

America’s retreat from global aid is leaving a massive funding gap that no other country is stepping in to fill, leaving the world’s poorest to pay the price, warns IRC president & CEO David Miliband on GZERO World with Ian Bremmer.

Is American capitalism still capitalism?

In this episode of Ian Bremmer’s Quick Take, Ian explores the state of capitalism in the United States.

The collapse of the college premium

“Pain and agony and suffering,” wrote Sam Angel, about his job hunt. He recently graduated with a masters in Cold War military history from Columbia University in New York, having decided to go right into a masters program after finishing undergrad.

What We’re Watching: South Korea’s Lee to meet Trump, Israel offers withdrawal for Hezbollah disarmament, Maryland man now headed to Uganda

Hard Numbers: Ukraine blocked from using long-range US missiles, Israeli strike on hospital, Taliban gaining legitimacy, & More

GZEROMEDIA

The global refugee crisis is at breaking point

As global conflicts surge, the refugee crisis is spiraling out of control. How is the world responding? International Rescue Committee president & CEO David Miliband joins Ian Bremmer on GZERO World.

Rethinking the refugee crisis and global aid system, with David Miliband

David Miliband, IRC president & CEO, joins Ian Bremmer on the GZERO World podcast to discuss the worsening humanitarian crisis as the number of refugees and forcibly displaced people reaches record highs amid shrinking aid budgets and a pullback of US foreign aid.

The broken system behind the refugee crisis

A record 123 million people have been forcibly displaced worldwide, straining poorer countries and an unraveling aid system. Ian Bremmer breaks down the refugee crisis and the growing threat to global stability.

What We’re Watching: Powell signals rate cuts, Sri Lanka’s anti-corruption push, Gaza starvation confirmed

Hard Numbers: Judge orders temp shutdown of Alligator Alcatraz, Colombian violence spreading, Women’s Rugby World Cup begins, & More

60: A federal judge gave the White House and the Florida state government 60 days to shut down “Alligator Alcatraz,” a controversial immigration detention center in the Florida Everglades that has become a symbol of US President Donald Trump’s severe immigration policies.

Putin punishes Ukraine to avoid looking weak

GZEROMEDIA

Subscribe to GZERO Media's newsletter: Signal

More from GZERO Media

America’s retreat from global aid is leaving a massive funding gap that no other country is stepping in to fill, leaving the world’s poorest to pay the price, warns IRC president & CEO David Miliband on GZERO World with Ian Bremmer.

In this episode of Ian Bremmer’s Quick Take, Ian explores the state of capitalism in the United States.

“Pain and agony and suffering,” wrote Sam Angel, about his job hunt. He recently graduated with a masters in Cold War military history from Columbia University in New York, having decided to go right into a masters program after finishing undergrad.

GZEROMEDIA

Subscribe to GZERO Media's newsletter: Signal

As global conflicts surge, the refugee crisis is spiraling out of control. How is the world responding? International Rescue Committee president & CEO David Miliband joins Ian Bremmer on GZERO World.

David Miliband, IRC president & CEO, joins Ian Bremmer on the GZERO World podcast to discuss the worsening humanitarian crisis as the number of refugees and forcibly displaced people reaches record highs amid shrinking aid budgets and a pullback of US foreign aid.

A record 123 million people have been forcibly displaced worldwide, straining poorer countries and an unraveling aid system. Ian Bremmer breaks down the refugee crisis and the growing threat to global stability.

60: A federal judge gave the White House and the Florida state government 60 days to shut down “Alligator Alcatraz,” a controversial immigration detention center in the Florida Everglades that has become a symbol of US President Donald Trump’s severe immigration policies.