{"id":1176504,"date":"2025-06-30T15:22:40","date_gmt":"2025-06-30T12:22:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uatv.ua\/?p=1176504"},"modified":"2025-06-30T15:22:45","modified_gmt":"2025-06-30T12:22:45","slug":"why-has-russia-lost-its-superpower-status","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/uatv.ua\/en\/why-has-russia-lost-its-superpower-status\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Has Russia Lost Its Superpower Status?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Russia continues to project the image of a global superpower, yet it increasingly fails to meet the basic criteria of true international leadership\u2014such as economic stability, political unity, global influence, and the ability to inspire or attract others. These shortcomings highlight a nation in decline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moscow\u2019s ambitions for global dominance are becoming increasingly unconvincing, particularly given its ongoing war against Ukraine, worsening international isolation, and weakening economy. Despite this, many people around the world still mistakenly view Russia as a superpower. How did this perception arise\u2014and what steps should be taken to address it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dive in this topic with\u00a0Petro Oleshchuk,<\/strong>\u00a0political scientist, Ph.D, expert at the United Ukraine Think Tank, in his\u00a0article<\/a>\u00a0for\u00a0The Gaze.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Firstly, Oleshchuk explains that after the Soviet Union collapsed, Russia inherited a vast nuclear arsenal, a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, expansive territory, and the residual momentum of imperial influence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These elements helped sustain the appearance of superpower status. However, over time, it became clear that such symbols, without real substance behind them, were merely an illusion. Military might without a solid economic foundation becomes more of a liability than an advantage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In reality, today\u2019s Russia resembles a \u201cdefensive empire,\u201d clinging to its fading influence through force rather than persuasion or legitimacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Economically, Russia is weak\u2014it contributes only about 2% of global GDP, similar to Spain. Its economy remains highly dependent on oil and gas, which make up more than 40% of its exports\u2014prompting John McCain\u2019s famous remark that Russia is essentially \u201ca gas station with nuclear weapons.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sanctions that began in 2014 and intensified sharply in 2022 have pushed out foreign investors, created technology shortages, and driven a brain drain. By 2023\u20132024, up to one-third of Russia\u2019s national budget was spent on war, sacrificing long-term stability for short-term aggression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Secondly, political scientist argues that Being a superpower requires more than the capacity to wage war\u2014it also demands the ability to foster peace. Russia, however, has demonstrated only a talent for destruction. Unlike the Soviet Union, which\u2014despite its flaws\u2014had a coherent and globally influential ideology, modern Russia lacks any compelling worldview to offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 provided a clear test of Moscow\u2019s actual strength\u2014and Russia failed. The Kremlin did not accomplish its strategic aims, suffered massive military losses, became mired in a prolonged conflict, and cut itself off from the European market. This war laid bare the stark difference between Russia\u2019s projected image and its real power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Finnish President Alexander Stubb told former U.S. President Donald Trump, \u201cRussia is no longer a great power.\u201d Genuine superpowers do not rely on coercion and fear\u2014they shape international norms, rather than violate them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, the expert summarizes that Russia is a revisionist power, but not a superpower. In the 21st century, it acts as a revanchist state aiming to undo the post-Cold War international order. Yet its ambitions far exceed its actual capabilities. Without a strong economy, reliable global partnerships, or a positive international reputation, military strength alone cannot sustain influence\u2014it leads only to stagnation. While Putin\u2019s Russia may appear powerful due to its military assets, it lacks long-term potential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can a superpower truly exist today without economic and ideological leadership? Can it lead the world if it inspires fear rather than admiration? These questions answer themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The world must move beyond the illusion of Russia as a pillar of global stability and acknowledge the reality: it is an authoritarian state undermining the foundations of the international system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read the full article by\u00a0Petro Oleshchuk<\/strong>\u00a0on The Gaze:<\/strong> Why is Russia no Longer a Superpower?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read also:<\/strong> Challenging the Myth of \u2018Russia\u2019s Invincibility\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Russia continues to project the image of a global superpower, yet it …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":31,"featured_media":1176505,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[59],"tags":[76,78],"sources":[],"class_list":["post-1176504","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-publications-en","tag-glavnoe-en","tag-homepage-en"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nWhy Has Russia Lost Its Superpower Status? - Freedom<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/uatv.ua\/en\/why-has-russia-lost-its-superpower-status\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Why Has Russia Lost Its Superpower Status? - Freedom\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Russia continues to project the image of a global superpower, yet it ...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/uatv.ua\/en\/why-has-russia-lost-its-superpower-status\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Freedom\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-06-30T12:22:40+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-06-30T12:22:45+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/uatv.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/347-820x547.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"820\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"547\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Danylo Shportilo\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Danylo Shportilo\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/uatv.ua\/en\/why-has-russia-lost-its-superpower-status\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/uatv.ua\/en\/why-has-russia-lost-its-superpower-status\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Danylo Shportilo\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/uatv.ua\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/f4fe8d6d08deebcdee69f6671576d2d2\"},\"headline\":\"Why Has Russia Lost Its Superpower Status?\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-06-30T12:22:40+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-06-30T12:22:45+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/uatv.ua\/en\/why-has-russia-lost-its-superpower-status\/\"},\"wordCount\":626,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/uatv.ua\/en\/why-has-russia-lost-its-superpower-status\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/uatv.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/347-scaled.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"\u0413\u043b\u0430\u0432\u043d\u043e\u0435\",\"\u041d\u0430 \u0433\u043b\u0430\u0432\u043d\u0443\u044e (\u0441\u043b\u0430\u0439\u0434\u0435\u0440)\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Publications\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/uatv.ua\/en\/why-has-russia-lost-its-superpower-status\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/uatv.ua\/en\/why-has-russia-lost-its-superpower-status\/\",\"name\":\"Why Has Russia Lost Its Superpower Status? - Freedom\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/uatv.ua\/en\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/uatv.ua\/en\/why-has-russia-lost-its-superpower-status\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/uatv.ua\/en\/why-has-russia-lost-its-superpower-status\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/uatv.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/347-scaled.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-06-30T12:22:40+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-06-30T12:22:45+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/uatv.ua\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/f4fe8d6d08deebcdee69f6671576d2d2\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/uatv.ua\/en\/why-has-russia-lost-its-superpower-status\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/uatv.ua\/en\/why-has-russia-lost-its-superpower-status\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/uatv.ua\/en\/why-has-russia-lost-its-superpower-status\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/uatv.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/347-scaled.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/uatv.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/347-scaled.jpg\",\"width\":2560,\"height\":1707,\"caption\":\"Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow, Russia. 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