Putin's Kremlin meeting with Trump envoys exposes Russia's fading grip on former Soviet allies

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, Donald Trump's envoys, for new Ukraine war mediation talks, amid growing pressure from key allies like India and Kazakhstan to end the conflict. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi publicly urged Putin to move from endless war to peace, while Kazakhstan's president questioned the war's purpose. These signals from non-Western partners, who have helped Russia withstand sanctions, highlight the rising cost of the conflict. Despite Russia's claims of victory, its 2026 offensive has stalled, with minimal territorial gains and Ukrainian drone strikes damaging Russian energy infrastructure. The war is eroding Russia's influence in former Soviet states, and even China's support comes with increasing dependency, complicating Putin's strategic position.