Vladimir Putin

Last updated: May 29, 2026

Vladimir Putin has been the central figure in Russia’s management of the South Caucasus for over two decades. His administration brokered the November 9, 2020 ceasefire that ended the 44-Day War, deployed Russian peacekeepers to Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh), and positioned Russia as the indispensable mediator between Armenia and Azerbaijan. That architecture has since collapsed: Russia failed to prevent the Lachin Corridor blockade , took no action during Azerbaijan’s September 2023 offensive that resulted in the ethnic cleansing of Artsakh’s entire Armenian population, and watched as Armenia systematically withdrew from Russian-led security and economic structures.

The Ukraine War , which Putin launched in February 2022, fundamentally altered Russia’s capacity and willingness to act in the South Caucasus. With military resources committed to Ukraine and diplomatic isolation from the West deepening, Moscow’s ability to enforce its South Caucasus commitments diminished sharply. Putin’s personal relationships with Aliyev and Pashinyan — and his apparent willingness to tolerate Azerbaijan’s territorial advances — have become a template for how great-power guarantees can unravel when the guarantor’s interests diverge from the guaranteed party’s needs.

Groong covers Putin’s role in South Caucasus affairs through direct analysis of Russian policy, tracking of the peace process mediation formats, and assessment of what Russian withdrawal from its traditional mediating role means for the durability of any future Armenia-Azerbaijan settlement.

Groong episodes that include this tag

Below are all Groong episodes tagged with Vladimir Putin.

Ivan Katchanovski on the Maidan Massacre, Ukraine War, and Implications | Ep 393 - Dec 9, 2024 [EP393]

Posted on Monday, Dec 9, 2024 | Category: Ukraine, Politics, Russia, Georgia, Armenia, NATO, European Union, Israel, Human Rights, Geopolitics

Guest:

SUPPORT PROF. KATCHANOVSI’S WORK HERE: https://gofund.me/52b68e07

Topics:

  • The War in Ukraine
  • Trump’s “Eastern Approaches”
  • The Maidan Massacre and Its Legacy
  • Maidanization of Georgia?
  • Armenia in the Shadow of Ukraine

Episode 393 | Recorded: December 7, 2024

Karen Kwiatkowski on Turkey, NATO, and the 44-Day War | Ep 392 - Dec 7, 2024 [EP392]

Posted on Saturday, Dec 7, 2024 | Category: Politics, Turkey, NATO, Armenia, Nagorno Karabakh, Artsakh, Azerbaijan, USA, Ukraine, Russia, Israel, Iran, Middle East, Geopolitics, Syria, China, Genocide, Georgia, Lebanon, European Union | Series: cog, video

Guest:

Topics:

  • Turkey’s Role in the 44-Day War
  • NATO and Intelligence Sharing
  • Global Power Rivalries
  • Lessons from U.S. Intelligence Practices

Episode 392 | Recorded: December 2, 2024

Karen Kwiatkowski on Turkey, NATO, and the 44-Day War | Ep 392 - Dec 7, 2024 [EP392]

Posted on Saturday, Dec 7, 2024 | Category: Politics, Turkey, NATO, Armenia, Nagorno Karabakh, Artsakh, Azerbaijan, USA, Ukraine, Russia, Israel, Iran, Middle East, Geopolitics, Syria, China, Genocide, Georgia, Lebanon, European Union

Guest:

Topics:

  • Turkey’s Role in the 44-Day War
  • NATO and Intelligence Sharing
  • Global Power Rivalries
  • Lessons from U.S. Intelligence Practices

Episode 392 | Recorded: December 2, 2024

Transcript: Karen Kwiatkowski on Turkey, NATO, and the 44-Day War | Ep 392 - Dec 7, 2024 [EP392]

Posted on Saturday, Dec 7, 2024 | Category: Politics, Turkey, NATO, Armenia, Nagorno Karabakh, Artsakh, Azerbaijan, USA, Ukraine, Russia, Israel, Iran, Middle East, Geopolitics, Syria, China, Genocide, Georgia, Lebanon, European Union, Transcript

Turkey’s Role in the 44-Day War. NATO and Intelligence Sharing. Global Power Rivalries. Lessons from U.S. Intelligence Practices.

Archil Sikharulidze - Georgia Elections Aftermath and The Situation in Abkhazia | Ep 388, Dec 1, 2024 [EP388]

Posted on Saturday, Nov 30, 2024 | Category: Georgia, Politics, Armenia, Russia, European Union, NATO, Ukraine, China, Economy, Turkey, Syria, Iran, India | Series: cog

Guest:

Topics:

  • Constitutional Crisis In Georgia?
  • Western Reactions and Escalation
  • Russian Reactions and Georgia’s Strategic Direction
  • Unrest In Abkhazia

Episode 388 | Recorded: November 30, 2024

Archil Sikharulidze - Georgia Elections Aftermath and The Situation in Abkhazia | Ep 388, Dec 1, 2024 [EP388]

Posted on Saturday, Nov 30, 2024 | Category: Georgia, Politics, Armenia, Russia, European Union, NATO, Ukraine, China, Economy, Turkey, Syria, Iran, India

Guest:

Topics:

  • Constitutional Crisis In Georgia?
  • Western Reactions and Escalation
  • Russian Reactions and Georgia’s Strategic Direction
  • Unrest In Abkhazia

Episode 388 | Recorded: November 30, 2024

Arthur G. Martirosyan - Government Firings by Text, Another Scandalous Pashinyan Interview, New Escalation in Ukraine | Ep 387 - Nov 24, 2024 [EP387]

Posted on Tuesday, Nov 26, 2024 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Georgia, Turkey, Russia, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, China, Genocide, Economy, Middle East, NATO, Syria | Series: wir

Guest:

Topics:

  • Supreme Judicial Council Head, MPs resign at Pashinyan’s “Ask”
  • Another Pashinyan Interview, More Scandalous Statements
    • Speed Cameras, Government Officials Cars
    • “Western Azerbaijan” ≠ “Western Armenia”
    • EU Mission in Armenia
  • New Escalation in Ukraine

Episode 387 | Recorded: November 25, 2024

Arthur G. Martirosyan - Government Firings by Text, Another Scandalous Pashinyan Interview, New Escalation in Ukraine | Ep 387 - Nov 24, 2024 [EP387]

Posted on Tuesday, Nov 26, 2024 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Georgia, Turkey, Russia, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, China, Genocide, Economy, Middle East, NATO, Syria

Guest:

Topics:

  • Supreme Judicial Council Head, MPs resign at Pashinyan’s “Ask”
  • Another Pashinyan Interview, More Scandalous Statements
    • Speed Cameras, Government Officials Cars
    • “Western Azerbaijan” ≠ “Western Armenia”
    • EU Mission in Armenia
  • New Escalation in Ukraine

Episode 387 | Recorded: November 25, 2024

Tevan Poghosyan - Armenia-Azerbaijan Talks, COP29 in Baku, Gyumri Politics, Police Reform | Ep 386 - Nov 17, 2024 [EP386]

Posted on Tuesday, Nov 19, 2024 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, Russia, Human Rights, Economy, Ukraine, China, Iran, Israel, Middle East | Series: wir

Guest:

Topics:

  • Armenia-Azerbaijan talks
  • COP29: Diplomacy and boycotts
  • Gyumri’s political intrigues
  • Mass dismissal of Armenian government members
  • Police “reform”
  • Legislative Changes In Preparation For Elections

Episode 386 | Recorded: November 17, 2024