, Columnist
Why Russian Antiwar Protests Won’t Change Putin’s Mind
The people demonstrating against him represent only a minority opinion.
Not moving the needle.
Photographer: Andrey Rudakov/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
As Western sanctions imposed on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine begin to bite, there are reports of antiwar demonstrations and Russian protests against President Vladimir Putin. Many Russians have also been fleeing the country.
But what impact, if any, might this have on Putin’s decision-making? Does he feel any pressure from his own people? These questions came up in a Twitter Spaces discussion on Monday, featuring Bloomberg Opinion columnists Clara Ferreira Marques and Leonid Bershidsky, hosted by Bobby Ghosh. This is an edited transcript.