Part 7/12:
Furthermore, regional powerplay involves new dynamics, with countries like Armenia and Azerbaijan turning towards Washington for diplomatic and economic alignments—an unthinkable just a few years ago when Russia maintained a near-monopoly over regional affairs.
The Bleeding Wound: The Ukraine War’s Toll on Russia
Putin's efforts to position Russia as an alternative to U.S. dominance have been undermined by the war in Ukraine. Sanctions, economic strangulation, and loss of weapons exports have weakened Moscow’s regional standing. Its diplomatic efforts are overstretched and ineffectual, with Russia no longer a key actor in peace processes like the recent Gaza ceasefire negotiations, where Israel, Egypt, and European countries dominated proceedings.