Xavier Colás began his presentation by analyzing the recent election results in Russia and their implications, highlighting the victory of the current president, Vladimir Putin. He also explained Russia’s evolution since the year 2000, pointing out the serious economic, social, and geographical difficulties the country faced at that time.

During his speech, Colás delved into how Putin has consolidated his power over the years, focusing on the weakening of the opposition, which has lost strength since the beginning of the decade. However, he also pointed out the potential weaknesses of the current government, which seem to be increasing, and mentioned a «metaphorical pact» between Russian citizens and Putin, in which the former relinquish power in exchange for political stability. Nevertheless, this pact appears to be weakening, with a rise in dissenting voices and growing public concern in Russia.

Xavier Colás also addressed the mistakes made by the West in failing to accurately anticipate Putin’s actions, as evidenced by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. He further suggested that Russia might attempt to resolve this conflict within the year through two strategies: advancing toward Kyiv or blocking access to territories near the Black Sea.

During the discussion following Xavier Colás’ presentation, participants raised questions about the role and future of the Russian opposition and the position of European countries on Russia. Other topics discussed included potential candidates to succeed Putin in power and the current state of the war in Ukraine.

Aranzazu Álvarez