Vladimir Putin faces isolation after Ukraine invasion leaves Russian leader abandoned by key allies


Abandoned by key allies and criticised across the world, Russian President Vladimir Putin is on the brink of becoming an outcast on the world stage.

Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine on Thursday, which has led to protests and calls of condemnation across the world. 

Putin’s desire for a quick victory, perhaps similar to the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014 that only lasted a month, has been dashed after Ukrainians have fought back against the invaders.

Moscow was jilted by long-term ally China when it abstained from voting on a UN Security Council resolution condemning Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, which Western countries saw as a win against Putin.

It was also reported that several Chinese public banks are limiting financing to purchase raw materials from Russia for fear of Western sanctions should they be seen to be supporting the Kremlin.

Other allies such as Hungary and Turkey have turned sour on Putin.

Abandoned by key allies and criticised across the world, Russian President Vladimir Putin is on the brink of becoming an outcast on the world stage

Abandoned by key allies and criticised across the world, Russian President Vladimir Putin is on the brink of becoming an outcast on the world stage

Russia invaded Ukraine last Thursday but has faced strong resistance as the country fights back. Pictured: An explosion in the capital city of Kyiv early on Thursday

Russia invaded Ukraine last Thursday but has faced strong resistance as the country fights back. Pictured: An explosion in the capital city of Kyiv early on Thursday

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban attends a NATO leaders virtual summit at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Friday

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivers a speech during a mass opening ceremony in Istanbul on Friday

Longstanding Russian allies such as Hungary Prime Minister Viktor Orban (left) and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (right) have turned sour on Putin

A Russian military vehicle is seen ablaze in Kharkiv on Sunday morning after troops entered the eastern Ukrainian city 

Burning Russian military equipment on the streets of Kharkiv minutes after Russian army entered the city

Burning Russian military equipment on the streets of Kharkiv minutes after Russian army entered the city

Russian forces are pictured entering Ukraine's second largest city, Kharkiv, on Sunday morning. Gun battles are reported to have erupted

Russian forces are pictured entering Ukraine's second largest city, Kharkiv, on Sunday morning. Gun battles are reported to have erupted

Russian forces are pictured entering Ukraine’s second largest city, Kharkiv, on Sunday morning. Gun battles are reported to have erupted. Russian vehicles are said to have been marked with a white Z to distinguish them from Ukrainian combatants

Ukrainian troops gather around a fire during a brief period of rest as they defend their capital, Kyiv, from Russian forces

Ukrainian troops gather around a fire during a brief period of rest as they defend their capital, Kyiv, from Russian forces 

Members of Russian special forces - SOF - in Bucha outside of Kyiv as the invaders continue to besiege Ukraine's capital city

Members of Russian special forces – SOF – in Bucha outside of Kyiv as the invaders continue to besiege Ukraine’s capital city 

A column of Russian military vehicles is seen near the village of Oktyabrsky, Belgorod Region, near the Russian-Ukrainian border, on February 26, 2022

A column of Russian military vehicles is seen near the village of Oktyabrsky, Belgorod Region, near the Russian-Ukrainian border, on February 26, 2022

Turkey may stop Russian ships from coming into the Black Sea, it has been suggested, and Hungary’s leader Viktor Orban has agreed to all EU sanctions against Russia.

Even Germany, which has for so long been reluctant to send weapons to conflict zones, acknowledged that Putin’s invasion was a ‘turning point’.

The European power said last night it would give 500 Stinger missiles and 1,000 anti-tank systems to Ukraine.

Today, as the fighting continued, The Kremlin announced that a Russian delegation had arrived in the Belarusian city of Homel for talks with Ukrainian officials. However, while Zelensky said that while said the Ukraine was ready for peace talks, he said they would not be taking place in Belarus - which was a staging ground for Russia troops prior to the invasion. Pictured: Ukrainian servicemen take cover in a shelter at fighting positions at the military airbase Vasylkiv in the Kyiv region

Today, as the fighting continued, The Kremlin announced that a Russian delegation had arrived in the Belarusian city of Homel for talks with Ukrainian officials. However, while Zelensky said that while said the Ukraine was ready for peace talks, he said they would not be taking place in Belarus – which was a staging ground for Russia troops prior to the invasion. Pictured: Ukrainian servicemen take cover in a shelter at fighting positions at the military airbase Vasylkiv in the Kyiv region

Mushroom cloud

Mushroom cloud

This is the moment a gas pipeline was blown up by Ukraine in the city of Kharkiv, which sits east of Ukraine, close to the Russian border 

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said: ‘The Russian assault on Ukraine marks a turning point.

‘It threatens our entire post-war order. It is our duty to support Ukraine to the best of our ability in its defence against the invasive army of Vladimir Putin.

‘Germany stands closely on the side of Ukraine.’

Its government will also reportedly agree with the UK, US and Canada that it is necessary to prevent Russia from using the Swift banking system, which more than 11,000 banks use to process payments.

That measure comes after weeks of insistence from Kyiv it was the right step to take in a bid to cripple the Russian economy and force an end to its violent invasion of Ukraine.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (pictured) said: 'The Russian assault on Ukraine marks a turning point. 'It threatens our entire post-war order. It is our duty to support Ukraine to the best of our ability in its defence against the invasive army of Vladimir Putin'

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (pictured) said: ‘The Russian assault on Ukraine marks a turning point. ‘It threatens our entire post-war order. It is our duty to support Ukraine to the best of our ability in its defence against the invasive army of Vladimir Putin’

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky (pictured) has refused to surrender amid an onslaught of attacks from Moscow as well as an ultimatum from Russia demanding it

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky (pictured) has refused to surrender amid an onslaught of attacks from Moscow as well as an ultimatum from Russia demanding it

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace (pictured) said: 'Our armed forces are once again being called upon in the service of our Nation and I salute the bravery and sense of duty shared by all our personnel who have been deployed to support NATO'

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace (pictured) said: ‘Our armed forces are once again being called upon in the service of our Nation and I salute the bravery and sense of duty shared by all our personnel who have been deployed to support NATO’

Although Britain and other countries had imposed a raft of sanctions on Russia, many condemned them for not going far enough.

Stopping Russian banks from using Swift would put an end to millions worth of deals that would then need to be processed through more traditional systems such as fax, telephone and bank-to-bank transfers.

The only country ever to have been kicked out of Swift was Iran, which lost 30 per cent of its foreign trade because of it.

Russia was threatened with expulsion from Swift after it annexed Crimea in 2014. The then-Prime Minister of Russia Dmitry Medvedev said the move would be interpreted as a ‘declaration of war’.

Former Russian finance minister said the country’s GDP would decrease by five per cent in a single year without Swift, which could leave the economy crippled.

In addition to being placed in a potential financial pariah, Putin has not had as much success on the battlefield as he hoped for.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has refused to surrender amid an onslaught of attacks from Moscow as well as an ultimatum from Russia demanding it.

Russia, which is 28 times bigger than Ukraine, has faced serious resistance as it has attempted to take over by force.

Both the UK and the US have pledged extra military help for Ukraine and surrounding Nato countries.

President Biden agreed to send $350million (£260million) of military aid, bumping up its total spending in the country to more than $1billion in just the last year.

Britain has sent Challenger 2 tanks and armoured vehicles from the Royal Welsh Battlegroup to Estonia, which borders Russia.

Approximately 1,000 soldiers will also arrive from Britain in the next few days to shore up defences against any Russian incursion into Nato lands.

It came as Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg promised to move more troops to countries on the eastern borders of Belarus and Russia.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said the aim was to stop invasions of Nato member states.

He said: ‘Our armed forces are once again being called upon in the service of our Nation and I salute the bravery and sense of duty shared by all our personnel who have been deployed to support NATO.

‘Alongside our NATO Allies, these deployments constitute a credible deterrent to stop Russian aggression threatening the territorial sovereignty of member states.’

Even the sporting world has shunned Putin. Poland has refused to play their football World Cup play-off against Russia next month and the Sochi Formula-One Grand Prix was axed after the war started.

Vladimir Putin next to billionaire and businessman Roman Abramovich in Sochi, Russia, July 19, 2016

Vladimir Putin next to billionaire and businessman Roman Abramovich in Sochi, Russia, July 19, 2016

The billionaire Chelsea owner has faced renewed focus on his business activities in recent days but has always denied any wrongdoing or grounds for him to be sanctioned

The billionaire Chelsea owner has faced renewed focus on his business activities in recent days but has always denied any wrongdoing or grounds for him to be sanctioned

Everton's players had Ukrainian flags draped over their shoulders as they lined up for the game

Everton’s players had Ukrainian flags draped over their shoulders as they lined up for the game

Man City's players had 'No War' messages on the front and back of their shirts prior to kick-off

Man City’s players had ‘No War’ messages on the front and back of their shirts prior to kick-off

Oleksandr Zinchenko and Vitaliy Mykolenko hugged one another before kick-off on Saturday

Oleksandr Zinchenko and Vitaliy Mykolenko hugged one another before kick-off on Saturday

Zinchenko was clearly emotional before kick-off as he applauded both sets of fans

Zinchenko was clearly emotional before kick-off as he applauded both sets of fans

In the Premier League, Everton players walked onto the pitch at Goodison Park for their game with Manchester City last night wearing Ukrainian flags, while the away side had ‘No War’ written on their shirts.

Ukrainian duo Oleksandr Zinchenko of Man City and Everton left-back Vitaliy Mykolenko also embraced ahead of tributes at Goodison Park, leaving the Manchester City man in tears ahead of kick-off.

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is allegedly close to Putin, and although this is something he denied, the Russian oligarch last night handed over power to the trustees of the club’s charitable foundation.

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel even said he would be ‘happy’ to lose today’s Carabao Cup final against Liverpool if it were to help Ukraine. 

Leave a Reply