Putin's Strategic Limitations Highlighted by Dependency on China
Vladimir Putin's Russia is increasingly constrained in its geopolitical maneuvers, particularly in its relationship with China. The EU Institute for Security Studies highlights a 'pronounced dependency gap' where China holds more strategic flexibility compared to Russia. This dependency is exacerbated by Russia's need to export sanctioned oil to China to fund its war in Ukraine. Despite Russia's attempts to project power, it is seen as a second-order power, more shaped by global events than shaping them. The Kremlin's rhetoric, often aimed at mocking Western allies, is viewed as a projection of its own weaknesses, as Russia remains entangled in the Ukraine conflict and economically reliant on China. 
