By flouting international norms, he has isolated his country. Putin's goal today is the same as when he invaded my country in 2008: to strengthen his power positions in Russia. The weakness of the international norms of the liberal order, which many in Washington and Brussels endorse but few dare to defend, makes Moscow look ever stronger. By challenging the norms imposed by the West, he has, in his view, taken progressively greater steps toward emancipating himself. Note: Mikheil Saakashvili is a lecturer at the Faculty of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University in the USA.

Source: News 24 April 02, 2026 17:44 UTC