Is Putin's Waiting Game Working?
A New York Times analysis asks whether Russian President Vladimir Putin's waiting strategy in the war in Ukraine is starting to pay off. It points to US President Donald Trump's push for deals and to political fractures in Europe.
The New York Times published an analysis on 20 October 2026 about the tactics of Russian President Vladimir Putin in the war against Ukraine. It asks whether his strategy of waiting is beginning to work.
The newspaper points to two developments that appear to be giving Putin the opening he has been waiting for. The first is US President Donald Trump's push to reach deals. The second is the political fractures in Europe.
What it means
According to the Times' assessment, the two factors together may strengthen Moscow's position. A strategy based on waiting pays off for Russia if Ukraine's allies cannot act in unison.
The available excerpt of the source does not include details on the content of any talks, specific proposals or decisions by individual countries. For that reason, it is not possible to describe precisely how the balance of power has shifted or which agreements are under discussion.
