A Guardian editorial argues that Vladimir Putin's carefully cultivated image as a strongman leader is a propaganda tool designed to hide Russia's strategic weaknesses. The piece notes that for 25 years, Russian state media have portrayed Putin as infallible, ignoring setbacks and blaming underlings for failures.
The editorial highlights Donald Trump's shifting stance toward Russia, suggesting that Putin's refusal to quickly agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine has embarrassed the US president. Trump, who initially offered sweeping concessions to Russia, has now threatened tightened sanctions if progress is not made.
The piece suggests Putin is trapped by his own maximalist demands and propaganda. Having framed the war as an existential struggle and sent hundreds of thousands of Russians to their deaths, he cannot easily accept a peace that leaves Ukraine sovereign. The editorial concludes that Putin's conduct reveals a delusional murderer, not a mastermind, and that his propaganda projects strength where there is weakness.
