As 2026 opens, Vladimir Putin projects the image of a calm, confident leader. Although political maskirovka comes naturally from his KGB background, Putin very likely believes he is in a position of strength.  He has good reason to, unfortunately, having sized up his foreign opponents and found them wanting. He sees no credible domestic threats to his power and thinks time is on his side. Accordingly, as he perceives it, Putin is in no mood to compromise. His strategy is to continue what he ha