All Russians lose in Putin's war

All Russians Lose in Putin's War | GZERO World

Vladimir Putin claims overwhelming domestic support for Russia's "special military operation" in Ukraine.

Is that true?

Former US Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul, who talks to Russians almost every day, says what he's hearing is that there no winners inside Russia, where the war has hurt Putin politically.

Even the oligarchs are unhappy: "There is not a single economic actor in Russia [who] thinks this is good."

Why? Before the war, Russians had been richer than at any time in history, McFaul tells Ian Bremmer on GZERO World. Many feel Putin threw it all away, and he'll never get back the credit he'd earned for brining stability to Russia.

Watch the GZERO World episode: Beginning of Putin's end

More from GZERO Media

Annie Gugliotta

Is this the end of American soft power and, if so, how should allies respond? GZERO Publisher Evan Solomon explores the shuttering of USAID and the tariff taunts between the US and Canada.

Be sure to catch next week’s groundbreaking discussions on new technologies for global energy security in disruptive times live from the MSC Energy Security Hub at the BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt Pavilion. On Friday, Feb. 1: See the exclusive keynote by Fatih Birol, executive director of International Energy Agency, entitled “Europe’s Energy Power Struggle: Rising Demand and a New Competitive Landscape”, Join an expert panel as they discuss “Net Zero for Global Security? Geopolitics of Energy Transition and Hydrogen Trade,” featuring Leila Benali (Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development of Morocco), Jennifer Morgan (State Secretary and Special Envoy for International Climate Action, German Federal Foreign Office), Rainer Quitzow (professor for Sustainability and Innovation, TU Berlin), Katherina Reiche (CEO, Westenergie AG; Chairwoman, National Hydrogen Council), Narendra Taneja (energy expert & chairman, Independent Energy Policy Institute). Saturday, Feb. 15 “Shaping Tomorrow’s Renewable Energy Paradigm in Times of Uncertainty,” the keynote by William Chueh, director, Precourt Institute for Energy, associate professor of materials science and engineering, Stanford University Plus many more panels and fireside chats. If you’re eager to explore how nations can boost their competitiveness, strengthen their economies, and create a future-proof society, sign up for our free livestream here.

Members of Mexico's National Guard queue to board a vehicle upon disembarking from a plane, after Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum agreed with U.S. President Donald Trump to bolster border enforcement efforts in response to Trump's demand to crack down on immigration and drug smuggling, in Tijuana, Mexico, on Feb. 4, 2025.
REUTERS/Jorge Duenes

Ontario Premier Doug Ford speaks during a campaign stop at Walker Construction in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, on Jan. 31, 2025.

REUTERS/Carlos Osorio

Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who is seeking a new mandate in an election later this month, has been forced to explain a pro-Trump comment captured by a hot mic.

Conservative Party of Canada leader Pierre Poilievre speaks in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, on Dec. 3, 2024.
REUTERS/Blair Gable

After Justin Trudeau agreed to appoint a fentanyl czar and take other steps to avoid a trade war with the United States, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievreannounced that he would get tough on traffickers.

President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meet at the White House on Feb. 4, 2025.
REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz

Fresh from declaring victory in his trade war with Mexico and Canada, Donald Trump on Tuesday shocked the world – and his own team – by proposing that the US would take over war-torn Gaza, move the Palestinian residents out – contrary to international law – and redevelop the area.