So, how did the world respond to this violation of a neighbor’s sovereignty? U.S. President Donald Trump made a congratulatory phone call, as did then European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. France and Germany avoided using the word “congratulate,” but wished Putin success in his next six years in office. And then, the world traveled to Russia for the football World Cup, the 21st century equivalent of the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
Six years on, during which Putin has unleashed hell on Ukraine, plunged the world into turmoil and now murdered a prominent opponent, how will the West respond this time?
As it stands, Putin is poised to force parts of Ukraine, which were occupied through a genocidal war of aggression, to take part in his predetermined re-election. Moreover, the Russian leader is now wanted for war crimes by the International Criminal Court, notably for the kidnapping of Ukrainian children. These reasons alone were already sufficient to declare this election — and his rule — illegitimate.
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) had the right idea last October, recognizing “Putin as illegitimate after the end of his current presidential term” and “ceas[ing] all contact with him, except for humanitarian contact and in the pursuit of peace.”
I question whether any contact with Putin could help bring about the pursuit of peace — only stronger military backing for Ukraine will do that. Furthermore, I do not believe sustainable peace will be possible as long as his crooked regime remains in power. He is a danger to the world. Nevertheless, I welcome PACE’s resolution and call on others to follow suit.
Putin has effectively declared himself dictator for life. In 2020, the Duma — Russia’s obedient assembly — changed the country’s constitution to lift its presidential term limit. And in response, the 2021 European Parliament Resolution on the direction of EU-Russia political relations clearly stated that “the EU should condemn any attempt by President Putin to remain in office beyond the end of his current and final presidential mandate on 7th May 2024 on the basis of the 2020 constitutional amendments, which Parliament has assessed as ‘illegally enacted.’”