Putin's Ukraine Failure Could Hasten Russia's Collapse, Historian Claims

Vladimir Putin's efforts to rebuild the Russian Empire have resulted in a major failure, exposing the military's limitations and turning Russia into a vassal state dependent on China, according to British-Polish historian Norman Davies. Davies argued that after more than two decades in power, Putin has only managed to reclaim fragments of the former Soviet sphere of influence.

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The attempts of Russian President Vladimir Putin to restore the Soviet Union, or at least the Russian Empire in a new form, have represented a major failure.

"This is a demonstration of Russia's weakness," Davies stated, comparing the current Russian army unfavorably to the Soviet Red Army of 1944-1945. He asserted that Moscow is becoming increasingly subordinate to Beijing, declaring, "Russia is now China's vassal." Davies predicted that a new phase of imperial disintegration could begin in Russia's Far East, a region where China already dominates trade and exploits resources. "It is only a matter of time before the Chinese take it back," he said, referring to Vladivostok, a city built on territory ceded by China to the Russian Empire in the 19th century.

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This is a demonstration of Russia's weakness.

Addressing historical tensions between Poland and Ukraine regarding the Volhynia massacres during World War II, Davies acknowledged Poland's claims as justified but ill-timed. He emphasized that a war for survival is not the appropriate moment to revisit historical disputes. "Poles are, of course, perfectly right about Volhynia," he said. "But this is simply not the time to bring up historical disputes."

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Russia is now China's vassal.

These remarks come amid renewed tensions over the commemoration of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army during World War II, which Poland holds responsible for the mass killing of Polish civilians in Volhynia and Eastern Galicia. Polish and Ukrainian Catholic leaders, alongside officials from both countries, have urged them not to become "prisoners of the past," seeking a balance between historical justice and wartime cooperation. Davies suggested that reconciliation requires patience, education, and "goodwill," adding, "It will not happen during the war."

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It is only a matter of time before the Chinese take it back.