Putin’s Western Summit Visit: A Calculated Move Amid Global Isolation

For over two decades, Vladimir Putin freely toured Western capitals like Paris, London, and New York. But since Russia launched its unprovoked war on Ukraine in early 2022, the Russian strongman’s footprint in the West has shrunk dramatically. Instead, Moscow’s pivot toward authoritarian allies and former Soviet states—coupled with an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant—has confined Putin to venues that pose minimal legal or diplomatic risk. Now, Putin’s decision to attend a summit in Alaska marks his first visit to a Western nation since the full-scale invasion began. While some may see this as a gesture toward dialogue, a...