In brief
In July 2014, President Vladimir Putin intensified diplomatic ties with Finland, Norway, the United States, and various African heads of state, according to a TASS report. The outreach—highlighted by phone calls with Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store—was aimed at defying Western attempts to isolate Russia as the war in Ukraine raged. Putin also criticized Western tactics, citing Newsweek’s claim that the West used “pressure, intimidation and blackmail.”
On July 17, 2014, Russia’s state news agency TASS released a report that President Vladimir Putin was stepping up diplomatic efforts to counter Western isolation amid the war in Ukraine. The agency cited a New York Times piece that described Putin’s “frenzy of diplomatic activity in the Russian capital” this past week.
Putin’s outreach included rare phone conversations with Finland’s President Alexander Stubb and Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store. He also met with several African head‑of‑state delegations in Moscow and entertained contacts with officials from the U.S. administration.
"President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia engaged in a frenzy of diplomatic activity in the Russian capital this past week that underscored how, nearly five years into his war against Ukraine, he is thwarting Western attempts to isolate him and muscling his way back to center stage in global affairs,"
Paul Sonne, the New York Times reporter, noted that the diplomat’s visits underscored Russia’s intent to stay active in international forums and to broaden ties that could improve its citizens’ lives.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov countered that the West’s narrative of Russia’s isolation was false. "The West was promoting the idea of Russia’s supposed ‘international isolation,’ although the country’s diplomatic activity demonstrated that no such isolation existed," Lavrov said.
Meanwhile, Newsweek’s brief summary of Putin’s statements claimed he accused Western countries of using "pressure, intimidation and blackmail" to gain influence and exploit former colonies.
These diplomatic maneuvers come amid a deteriorating relationship between the U.S. and Ukraine. Sunne warned that such deterioration could leave Kyiv vulnerable ahead of the expected harsh winter of the conflict.
In sum, Putin’s efforts to maintain engagement with a range of foreign leaders show his resolve to keep Russia on the global stage, even as Western powers push to isolate it politically and economically.
