Putin’s Endgame | Why His Moves in a Faraway Land Should Matter to You, Sitting in India

Let’s be honest. You’re probably scrolling through your phone, maybe sipping chai or a coffee in Mumbai, Bangalore, or Delhi, and you see another headline about Vladimir Putin . You see a stern face, headlines about a war that feels a world away, and you think, “Okay, but what does this really have to do with me?” It’s a fair question. We’ve got our own political dramas, our own economic anxieties, our own lives to lead.

But here’s the thing. In our hyper-connected, ridiculously complicated world, the decisions made by this one man in the Kremlin cast a shadow longer than you can imagine. That shadow touches everything from the price of the sunflower oil in your kitchen to the fighter jets guarding our skies. Ignoring Putin isn’t an option anymore. It’s like ignoring the weather.

So, let’s do what the 24/7 news cycle rarely does. Let’s sit down, cut through the noise, and actually understand the man behind the headlines. This isn’t about liking or hating him. It’s about understanding the “why” behind his actions, because that “why” is directly shaping the world you and I live in. And it’s more fascinating, and frankly more important, than you might think.

Beyond the Caricature | The KGB Ghost in the Machine

To understand what Putin does, you first have to understand what he is. We’ve all seen the memes and the official PR photos Putin riding a horse shirtless, Putin in a judo match, Putin tranquilizing a tiger. It’s a carefully crafted image of a strongman, a macho leader. But that’s just the packaging. The product inside is something else entirely.

The real key to his mind, his entire operating system, can be summed up in three letters: KGB. Before he was a president, he was a Lieutenant Colonel in the Soviet Union’s formidable intelligence agency. And the KGB wasn’t just a job; it was a worldview. Think about what they teach you there. They teach you that no one can be trusted. They teach you that the world is a zero-sum game for you to win, someone else must lose. They teach you that everything and everyone has a weakness, and the key to power is finding and exploiting it. This is the world of kompromat (compromising material) and shadowy operations.

Then came the 1990s. For the West, the collapse of the Soviet Union was a victory. For Putin, who was stationed in East Germany at the time, it was a profound trauma. He has called it the “greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th century.” This isn’t just rhetoric. It’s the core wound that drives him. He saw a superpower crumble, humiliated and carved up. Everything he has done since taking power in 2000 has been aimed at reversing that humiliation and restoring Russia to what he sees as its rightful place as a great power on the world stage.

So, when you see him make a bold, aggressive move, don’t just see a politician. See the ex-KGB agent who believes he is fighting a long war to reclaim his country’s lost glory. This is the ghost in the machine of Putin’s power .

The Grand Chessboard | So, What Does Putin Actually Want?

This is the billion-dollar question, isn’t it? Is he an expansionist trying to rebuild the USSR? Is he just trying to stay in power? The answer is a complex mix of all of the above. His goals can be broken down into a few key areas.

First, and most importantly, he wants a “sphere of influence.” This is a 19th-century concept, but he’s applying it with 21st-century tools. He believes great powers are entitled to a buffer zone of countries that are, if not outright allies, at least neutral and respectful. This is the single biggest Russia Ukraine war reason . From his perspective, Ukraine cozying up to NATO and the EU wasn’t just a neighbour making its own choices; it was a direct threat, a hostile military alliance setting up shop on his doorstep. He wants a ring of countries around Russia Ukraine, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan where Moscow’s voice is the loudest.

Second, he wants to weaken the West. Putin sees the world order as dominated by the United States, and he’s dedicated to breaking that dominance. This isn’t about a military invasion of Europe. It’s about creating cracks. Sowing discord through social media, supporting far-right and far-left political parties that are hostile to the EU and NATO, using energy as a political weapon it’s all part of a strategy to make the Western alliance look chaotic, unreliable, and weak. He wants a multipolar world where Russia is one of the poles of power, equal to the US and China.

And let’s not forget the most crucial goal: securing his own rule. Every foreign policy adventure is also a domestic message. A strong, decisive leader standing up to the West plays very well on Russian state television. It distracts from economic problems at home and consolidates his image as the only man who can defend Mother Russia. In a system with no real opposition, projecting strength abroad is the ultimate tool for maintaining power at home.

The India Connection | Why Putin’s Game Matters on Dalal Street and in South Block

Okay, so that’s the grand strategy. But how does it ripple all the way to India? In more ways than you think.

Let’s start with the most obvious: Defence . For decades, Russia has been the bedrock of India’s military hardware. From our Sukhoi fighter jets and T-90 tanks to our aircraft carrier and nuclear submarine, the “Made in Russia” stamp is everywhere. The S-400 missile defence system, which we bought despite the threat of US sanctions, is a prime example of this deep relationship. When Putin launches a long war in Ukraine, it puts a massive strain on Russia’s military-industrial complex. For India’s top brass, the questions are urgent: Will we get the spare parts we need? Will future deals be delayed? Can Russia remain a reliable supplier when it’s fighting for its own life? This directly impacts our national security .

Then there’s the economy. Remember when petrol and diesel prices went through the roof? The Ukraine invasion was a major catalyst, sending global crude oil prices soaring. The same goes for the edible oil in your kitchen. Ukraine and Russia are huge exporters of sunflower oil. The war disrupted that, and we felt the pinch in our grocery bills. The shockwaves from his decisions can be felt right here in our economy, influencing everything from global commodity prices to the daily jitters of the Nifty 50 . India’s decision to buy discounted Russian crude was a pragmatic economic move, but also a massive geopolitical statement that required walking a very fine diplomatic tightrope.

And that brings us to the biggest challenge for India: geopolitics . India prides itself on “strategic autonomy.” We are a member of the Quad with the US, Japan, and Australia. We are also a key member of BRICS and the SCO with Russia and China. Putin’s actions are squeezing this middle ground. The West wants us to condemn Russia more forcefully. Russia, our old friend, expects our support, or at least our neutrality. China watches all of this, calculating its own moves. The Putin India relations are being tested like never before. It’s a level of political chess that makes even the complex shifts in Indian state politics, like the moves of a figure like Swami Prasad Maurya , seem less complicated in comparison.

Answering Your Burning Questions About Putin

Is Putin a dictator?

It’s complicated. Russia holds elections, but the political landscape is heavily managed. Real opposition is sidelined or eliminated, the media is state-controlled, and the legal system is often used to target adversaries. Most analysts would call it a competitive authoritarian regime, not a classic dictatorship, but one where Putin’s power is absolute.

What is the relationship between Putin and India’s PM Modi?

Their relationship is often described as professional, pragmatic, and warm. It’s built on a long history of India-Russia ties and focused on mutual national interests, particularly in defence, energy, and creating a multipolar world order. They have met numerous times and maintain a direct line of communication.

Will the Russia-Ukraine war end soon?

It’s highly unlikely. Both sides have objectives they see as existential. Russia wants to secure the territory it has annexed and ensure Ukraine never joins NATO. Ukraine wants to liberate all its territory. Without a major shift on the battlefield or in the political leadership of either country, a protracted conflict is the most probable outcome. Be wary of anyone who tells you they know for sure.

How does Putin stay in power for so long?

It’s a combination of factors: tight control over the media and political system, a powerful security apparatus (the FSB, successor to the KGB), the elimination of viable political challengers, and cultivating an image as the indispensable leader who brought stability after the chaos of the 1990s. He also enjoys genuine support from a segment of the population that values stability and national pride over democratic freedoms.

What does Putin want to achieve with his presidency?

Ultimately, what does Putin want is to secure his legacy as the leader who reversed Russia’s post-Soviet decline, restored its status as a global great power, stood up to American dominance, and defended what he sees as Russia’s historical sphere of influence. The war in Ukraine is the most dramatic and risky gamble in pursuit of that legacy.

So, the next time you see that face on your screen, don’t just scroll past. Understanding Putin isn’t about becoming a foreign policy expert. It’s about basic literacy in the world we live in. It’s about understanding the invisible threads that connect a conflict thousands of miles away to your wallet, your country’s security, and the very shape of the 21st century. His story is no longer just Russia’s story; it’s a chapter in ours, too.