Challenges Faced by Vladimir Putin: Obstacles and Turning Points

Life is full of challenges, and Vladimir Putin faced many. Discover key struggles and how they were overcome.

Vladimir Putin is a Russian politician serving as President of Russia since 2012, and previously from 2000 to 2008. He also served as Prime Minister of Russia from 1999 to 2000 and 2008 to 2012. As the longest-serving Russian president since the Soviet Union's dissolution, his leadership has significantly shaped Russia's domestic and foreign policies.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

1960: US cancels summit

In 2013, the United States canceled a summit for the first time since 1960 after Putin gave asylum to American Edward Snowden, who had leaked massive amounts of classified information from the NSA.

1972: U.S. Withdrawal from Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty

In 1972, U.S. President George W. Bush's unilateral decision to withdraw from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty prompted Putin to initiate a build-up of Russia's nuclear capabilities.

1972: Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty

The U.S. unilaterally withdrew from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, following Putin's support of the U.S. in the War on Terror after the 9/11 attacks.

1973: United Nations Security Council Resolution

In 2011, Putin criticized the NATO-led military intervention in Libya, calling United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973 "defective and flawed".

1987: Potential Violation of Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty

Some analysts believe that Russia's nuclear strategy under Putin has brought Russia into violation of the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.

1999: Punishment of Journalists Challenging Official Views

Scott Gehlbach claimed that since 1999, Putin has systematically punished journalists who challenge his official point of view.

2003: Alexander Litvinenko became an MI6 agent

In 2003, Alexander Litvinenko became an MI6 agent, following his role as an officer in the KGB and FSB.

2003: Russia opposes Iraq War

In 2003, Russia strongly opposed the U.S. when it waged the Iraq War, marking a growing distance between Putin and the West and a deterioration in relations.

2003: Deterioration of relations with the UK

In 2003, relations between Russia and the United Kingdom deteriorated when the United Kingdom granted political asylum to Putin's former patron, oligarch Boris Berezovsky.

2006: Death of Alexander Litvinenko

The end of 2006 brought strained relations following the death by polonium poisoning in London of former KGB and FSB officer Alexander Litvinenko.

February 2007: Putin's Munich Speech

In February 2007, Putin criticized the United States' monopolistic dominance in global relations and its "almost uncontained hyper use of force in international relations" during what became known as the Munich Speech, leading to criticism from NATO.

June 2007: Putin's counterproposal to U.S. missile shield

On June 7, 2007, Putin presented President George W. Bush with a counterproposal regarding the U.S. missile shield in Europe, which was declined.

December 2007: Russia suspends participation in Conventional Forces in Europe treaty

On December 11, 2007, Russia suspended its participation in the Conventional Forces in Europe treaty.

2007: Diplomatic expulsions between Russia and the UK

In 2007, the crisis in relations continued with the expulsion of four Russian envoys over Russia's refusal to extradite former KGB bodyguard Andrei Lugovoi to face charges in the murder of Alexander Litvinenko. Russia expelled UK diplomats in retaliation.

February 2008: Putin opposes Kosovo's declaration of independence

In February 2008, Putin opposed Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence from Serbia, warning of destabilization in international relations.

August 2008: The 2008 South Ossetia War

In August 2008, Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili attempted to restore control over the breakaway South Ossetia. However, the Georgian military was soon defeated in the resulting 2008 South Ossetia War after regular Russian forces entered South Ossetia and then other parts of Georgia, then also opened a second front in the other Georgian breakaway province of Abkhazia with Abkhazian forces.

2008: Alleged Declaration on Annexing Ukrainian East and Crimea

In 2008, Putin allegedly declared at a NATO-Russia summit that if Ukraine joined NATO, Russia could contend to annex the Ukrainian East and Crimea.

2011: Putin criticizes NATO intervention in Libya

In 2011, Putin criticized the NATO-led military intervention in Libya, calling United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973 "defective and flawed".

May 2012: Reelection and Restrictive Laws

In May 2012, after Putin was reelected as president, Russia enacted many restrictive laws, started inspections of non-governmental organizations, harassed, intimidated and imprisoned political activists, and started to restrict critics.

2012: Crackdown on Liberal Media

In 2012, after Putin's return to the Kremlin, a crackdown extended to the liberal media, which had previously operated fairly independently.

2012: Adoption of "Foreign Agent" Legislation

In 2012, the original "foreign agent" legislation was adopted.

2013: Russia's Press Freedom Ranking

In 2013, Reporters Without Borders ranked Russia 148 out of 179 countries in terms of freedom of the press, criticizing the crackdown on political opposition and the failure to bring to justice criminals who have murdered journalists.

2013: U.S. cancels summit after Putin grants asylum to Edward Snowden

In late 2013, Russian-American relations deteriorated further when the United States canceled a summit after Putin gave asylum to American Edward Snowden, who had leaked classified information from the NSA.

February 2014: Ousting of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych

After the Russian annexation of Crimea, he said that Ukraine includes "regions of Russia's historic south" and that the February 2014 ousting of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych had been orchestrated by the West as an attempt to weaken Russia.

March 2014: Russian Annexation of Crimea

Following the Revolution of Dignity in March 2014, the Russian Federation annexed Crimea, which Putin stated was done because "Crimea has always been and remains an inseparable part of Russia".

July 2014: Speech on Protecting Russian Speakers Outside Russia

In a July 2014 speech during a Russian-supported armed insurgency in Eastern Ukraine, Putin stated he would use Russia's "entire arsenal of available means" up to "operations under international humanitarian law and the right of self-defence" to protect Russian speakers outside Russia.

2014: Russia suspended from G8

In 2014, Russia was suspended from the G8 group as a result of its annexation of Crimea.

2015: British Government launches public inquiry into Litvinenko's death

In 2015, the British Government launched a public inquiry into Alexander Litvinenko's death, presided over by Robert Owen.

January 2016: Publication of the Owen Report

On January 21, 2016, the Owen report stated that "The FSB operation to kill Mr. Litvinenko was probably approved by Mr Patrushev and also by President Putin".

December 2016: US intelligence claims Putin approved email hacking

In December 2016, US intelligence officials stated that Putin approved the email hacking and cyber attacks during the U.S. election against Hillary Clinton. A spokesman for Putin denied the reports.

January 2017: Deterioration of U.S.–Russian relations after Trump took office

Putin stated that U.S.–Russian relations, already at the lowest level since the end of the Cold War, have continued to deteriorate after Trump took office in January 2017.

December 2018: Autocephaly of Ukrainian Orthodox Church

With the attainment of autocephaly by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in December 2018 and subsequent schism of the Russian Orthodox Church from Constantinople, a number of experts came to the conclusion that Putin's policy of forceful engagement in post-Soviet republics significantly backfired on him.

June 2020: Political Prisoners in Russia

As of June 2020, Memorial Human Rights Center reported 380 political prisoners in Russia, including those prosecuted for political activities or involvement with banned Muslim organizations.

2020: Expansion of "Foreign Agent" Legislation

In 2020, Putin signed a law on labeling individuals and organizations receiving funding from abroad as "foreign agents", expanding the legislation adopted in 2012.

December 2022: Prosecutions for Criticizing the War in Ukraine

As of December 2022, more than 4,000 people were prosecuted for criticizing the war in Ukraine under Russia's war censorship laws.

February 2023: Russia suspends participation in New START treaty

On February 21, 2023, Putin suspended Russia's participation in the New START nuclear arms reduction treaty with the United States.

December 2023: Putin's press conference on negotiations with Ukraine

On December 14, 2023, President Putin indicated that Russia would only negotiate with Ukraine "when we achieve our objectives" and stated that another mobilization wasn't required as "617,000" Russian soldiers were fighting in Ukraine.