Russian President Vladimir Putin intends to make Russia into a global player, equivalent in power to the United States, Nina Khrushcheva, professor of international affairs at The New School University, said Monday in an interview with Kaius Niemi, senior editor-in-chief of the Helsingin Sanomat, during the International Press Institute (IPI)鈥檚 海角乱伦大神.
Khrushcheva, the granddaughter of late Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev, is the author of a memoir chronicling her family history titled 鈥淭he Lost Khrushchev: A Journey into the Gulag of the Russian Mind鈥�.
The international relations expert told an audience gathered to hear her speak on 鈥淭he Evolving Role of Russia in the Middle East and the World at Large鈥�, that she was not going to talk about her background, but that she wanted 鈥渢o talk about Vladimir Putin, because even if he does seem trivial 鈥� especially after all the stories of brave journalism we鈥檝e heard over the last two days 鈥� the triviality extends over 11 time zones.鈥�
Though Russia is certainly considered a 鈥渞egional power鈥�, Khrushcheva said, using U.S. President Barack Obama鈥檚 characterisation, Putin has grander ambitions. She said that his staunch defence of Bashar al-Assad鈥檚 contested regime in Syria is due to the fact that, through Assad, Syria is one of the few Middle Eastern countries Putin can directly influence.
By attempting to expand Russia鈥檚 sphere of influence over the Middle East and by fostering closer relations to Egypt and Iran, in addition to his efforts in Syria, Putin is working to position Russia as a world power on par with the United States, Khrushcheva opined.
鈥淭hat is a great game,鈥� she said. 鈥淗is job 鈥� or the job he thought he had 鈥� is to bring Russia to the grown-up table.鈥�
If Putin were to remain in power, Khrushcheva said, she expects he will continue to utilise his 鈥渟plinter tactics鈥� of finding and exploiting opponents鈥� weaknesses to further his goal of expanding Russian influence.
Pivoting to a discussion of Russia鈥檚 economic state, Khrushcheva noted the financial strains on the country due to falling oil prices and the economic sanctions imposed on it after the 2014 invasion of Crimea. Even with these difficulties, she said she did not expect Russia鈥檚 population would necessarily turn against Putin.
鈥淚t can last for a really long time, depending on how long Russians decide to withstand the inconvenience of hardship,鈥� she said of Putin鈥檚 time in power. 鈥淧erhaps the revolution will come tomorrow, perhaps it will last another 10 years.鈥�
Khrushcheva explained that part of the reason for Putin鈥檚 public support is simply the fact that people cannot find an alternative: 鈥淏etter the devil we know,鈥� she said.
She also indicated that the European Union missed its chance to chip away at the legitimacy of Putin鈥檚 regime because the bloc鈥檚 individual countries were 鈥渘ot speaking with one voice鈥�. Even though they imposed sanctions, Khrushcheva noted, some EU countries voiced their opposition to the action.
Under the current Russian constitution, Putin will be able to stay in power until 2024, Khrushcheva predicted, unless the Russian people decide they are no longer willing to live under such difficult economic conditions and revolt.
鈥淵ou can imagine what would happen in the next eight years [if Putin stays in power] and I imagine it is nothing good,鈥� she said.