politics
February 27, 2026
Fyodor Lukyanov: After Ukraine, the world stops pretending
The Ukraine conflict hasn’t changed the world, just exposed what was already breaking

TL;DR
- The Ukraine conflict revealed, rather than created, global shifts, exposing the limits of Western power.
- The previous international order based on the liberal world order has ended, replaced by a more transactional approach to global politics.
- Many nations refused to join punitive measures against Russia, prioritizing their own interests over Western alliances.
- Russia has fostered alternative visions of international cooperation through pragmatic groupings like BRICS.
- The US approach has shifted from preserving the old order to a more direct pursuit of national interests and dominance.
- Competition over resources, markets, and technology is intensifying, driven by revolutionary changes in various fields.
- Russia's focus on Ukraine has exposed vulnerabilities in its global influence and market presence.
- The world has entered a phase of competitive redistribution with repeated shocks and tests of endurance.
- Russia possesses advantages in resilience due to its resources and experience operating under pressure.
- The future of international relations will depend on the quality of governance and the ability to adapt to emerging challenges, not ideology.
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