Interview: Czech Expert Says Putin's Regime Looks Strong Until the Last Minute Before It Falls

In an interview with EUobserver, Czech foreign policy expert Filip Scherf analyzes the mounting pressures on Russian President Vladimir Putin due to the ongoing war in Ukraine. Scherf argues that the crisis is serious on military, political, and economic fronts, with problems reinforcing each other. He disagrees with Bloomberg's assessment that Russian diplomacy has failed, noting Russia's success in maintaining ties with the Global South and expanding BRICS. Scherf questions the reliability of Russian polls showing falling popularity but notes the trend is clear and that the Kremlin may be preparing for a shift. He explains that Putin is trapped: he cannot continue the war indefinitely due to economic strain, but he cannot end it without victory, as returning soldiers would destabilize the regime. The interview covers potential escalation scenarios and the difficulty of predicting a breaking point.