Putin faces 'existential' crisis after failing to take Donbas for 12 years | Cormac Smith episode artwork

EPISODE · Jan 21, 2026 · 24 MIN

Putin faces 'existential' crisis after failing to take Donbas for 12 years | Cormac Smith

from Frontline: The War in Ukraine and Global Security

“This is existential.”Putin’s insistence that the Donbas be signed over to Russia in peace negotiations highlights his inability to take the “heavily fortified fortress”, says former British diplomat Cormac Smith. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“This is existential.”Putin’s insistence that the Donbas be signed over to Russia in peace negotiations highlights his inability to take the “heavily fortified fortress”, says former British diplomat Cormac Smith. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Putin faces 'existential' crisis after failing to take Donbas for 12 years | Cormac Smith

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This episode was published on January 21, 2026.

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“This is existential.”Putin’s insistence that the Donbas be signed over to Russia in peace negotiations highlights his inability to take the “heavily fortified fortress”, says former British diplomat Cormac Smith. Hosted on Acast. See...

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