Chu Zhaogen

Director, Center for Belt and Road & Non-Traditional Security Studies, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University

Chu Zhaogen is the Director of the Center for Belt and Road & Non-Traditional Security Studies, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University.

A woman walks past a poster depicting Russian President Vladimir Putin holding his own body, as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues, in Sofia, Bulgaria, 28 March 2022. (Spasiyana Sergieva/Reuters)

Emperor Putin's missed opportunities and delusions

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine shows Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ambition and is seen as part of his grand strategy for restoring the nation's past glory. However, Chinese academic Chu Zhaogen notes that since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Russia has missed opportunities for technological advancement and societal reform. Also, Putin’s inner circle seems to perpetuate his delusion of Russia’s situation and military capabilities. China has lessons to take from all of this.