"Putin's Ambition: Recreating the Russian Empire in Ukraine"

[!CDATA[Russian President Vladimir Putin is determined to recreate the Russian empire and shows no signs of backing down in Ukraine, according to former Defense Secretary Robert Gates. Gates emphasized that Putin's intentions can be difficult to discern, even in face-to-face meetings. He believes that Putin sees it as his destiny to restore the Russian Empire, with Ukraine playing a crucial role in this ambition. President Trump, during his campaign, promised a quick resolution to the conflict in Ukraine, but progress has been slow, with Putin seemingly unwilling to make significant concessions. Despite efforts to facilitate talks between lower-level delegations from Ukraine and Russia, concrete progress has been limited. The conflict in Ukraine began in 2014 when Russian forces annexed Crimea following the ousting of Ukraine's pro-Russian president. Putin's ultimate goal is to have Ukraine as a client state of Russia, and Gates doubts that Putin will deviate from this objective anytime soon, despite the significant costs incurred by Russia. President Trump has expressed a desire to engage in direct talks with Putin, but the path to resolving the conflict remains uncertain.]]