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President Trump’s disdain for protecting European allies gives Vladimir Putin a fresh opportunity to extend his influence.

By Josh Holder, Lara Jakes and Bill Marsh

March 28, 2025

NATO member

Russian troops present

Russian military control

#g-RU-military-box , #g-RU-military-box .g-artboard { margin:0 auto; } #g-RU-military-box p { margin:0; } #g-RU-military-box .g-aiAbs { position:absolute; } #g-RU-military-box .g-aiImg { position:absolute; top:0; display:block; width:100% !important; } #g-RU-military-box .g-aiSymbol { position: absolute; box-sizing: border-box; } #g-RU-military-box .g-aiPointText p { white-space: nowrap; } #g-RU-military-Artboard_1 { position:relative; overflow:hidden; } #g-RU-military-Artboard_1 p { font-family:nyt-franklin,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight:regular; line-height:14px; height:auto; opacity:1; letter-spacing:0em; font-size:12px; text-align:left; text-transform:none; color:rgb(0,0,0); top:1px; position:static; padding-bottom:0; padding-top:0; mix-blend-mode:normal; font-style:normal; } #g-RU-military-Artboard_1 .g-pstyle0 { font-weight:500; height:14px; opacity:0.3; text-align:center; text-transform:uppercase; position:relative; } #g-RU-military-Artboard_1 .g-pstyle1 { font-weight:700; line-height:20px; height:20px; opacity:0.6; letter-spacing:0.666em; font-size:16px; text-align:center; color:rgb(255,255,255); top:1.3px; position:relative; } #g-RU-military-Artboard_1 .g-pstyle2 { font-weight:500; line-height:16px; height:16px; letter-spacing:0.09em; font-size:15px; text-align:right; top:1.2px; position:relative; } #g-RU-military-Artboard_1 .g-pstyle3 { font-weight:700; line-height:16px; height:16px; letter-spacing:0.09em; position:relative; } #g-RU-military-Artboard_1 .g-pstyle4 { font-weight:500; height:14px; opacity:0.3; text-transform:uppercase; position:relative; } #g-RU-military-Artboard_1 .g-pstyle5 { font-weight:500; height:14px; opacity:0.3; text-align:right; text-transform:uppercase; position:relative; } #g-RU-military-Artboard_1_copy { position:relative; overflow:hidden; } #g-RU-military-Artboard_1_copy p { font-family:nyt-franklin,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight:regular; line-height:5px; height:auto; opacity:1; letter-spacing:0em; font-size:11px; text-align:left; text-transform:none; color:rgb(0,0,0); top:0.9px; position:static; padding-bottom:0; padding-top:0; mix-blend-mode:normal; font-style:normal; } #g-RU-military-Artboard_1_copy .g-pstyle0 { font-weight:500; line-height:12px; height:12px; letter-spacing:0.09em; font-size:12px; text-align:right; top:1px; position:relative; } #g-RU-military-Artboard_1_copy .g-pstyle1 { font-weight:500; height:5px; opacity:0.3; text-align:center; text-transform:uppercase; position:relative; } #g-RU-military-Artboard_1_copy .g-pstyle2 { font-weight:700; line-height:7px; height:7px; opacity:0.6; letter-spacing:0.666em; font-size:12px; text-align:center; color:rgb(255,255,255); top:1px; position:relative; } #g-RU-military-Artboard_1_copy .g-pstyle3 { font-weight:500; height:5px; opacity:0.3; text-align:right; text-transform:uppercase; position:relative; } #g-RU-military-Artboard_1_copy .g-pstyle4 { font-weight:700; line-height:6px; height:6px; letter-spacing:0.09em; text-align:center; position:relative; }

ICELAND

FINLAND

RUSSIA

NATO’S

EASTERN

BORDER

NORWAY

SWEDEN

ESTONIA

KAZAKHSTAN

LATVIA

LITHUANIA

UZBEKISTAN

BELARUS

U.K.

POLAND

Germany

UKRAINE

Czech Rep.

TURKMENISTAN

MOLDOVA

France

HUNGARY

AZERBAIJAN

GEORGIA

ROMANIA

ARMENIA

BULGARIA

Portugal

ITALY

TURKEY

Spain

GREECE

SYRIA

NATO’S

EASTERN

BORDER

ICELAND

RUSSIA

FINLAND

NORWAY

Kazakhstan

BELARUS

U.K.

POLAND

Germany

UKRAINE

GEORGIA

France

ROMANIA

ITALY

Spain

TURKEY

GREECE

SYRIA

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For years, the threat of a Russia intent on expansion has loomed over much of Europe. It is not just the war in Ukraine. Moscow has also stationed military forces in friendly countries and fanned the flames of destabilizing political movements across the continent.

Now, as the Trump administration strikes a conciliatory tone toward Russia and pulls away from some of America’s oldest allies, European leaders who long enjoyed the backing of the powerful U.S. military sense an extraordinary moment of vulnerability.

For nearly 80 years, the United States has been the defensive and financial cornerstone of democratic security pacts created after World War II, in large part to keep the Soviet Union from marching across Europe. And even now, more than 80,000 American troops are deployed in Europe, some in a show of force right on Russia’s doorstep.

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FINLAND

NATO’S

EASTERN

BORDER

RUSSIA

ESTONIA

LATVIA

LITHUANIA

RUSSIA

BELARUS

Belarus hosts Russian nuclear weapons and troops.

Kaliningrad is a heavily militarized Russian exclave.

UKRAINE

Russian troops have occupied Moldova’s breakaway Transnistria region since 1992.

POLAND

Slovakia

MOLDOVA

Hungary

ROMANIA

Russia occupies about 20% of Ukraine.

NATO’S

EASTERN

BORDER

FINLAND

RUSSIA

ESTONIA

Kaliningrad is a heavily militarized Russian exclave.

LATVIA

LITHUANIA

BELARUS

RUSSIA

Belarus hosts Russian nuclear weapons and troops.

Russian troops have occupied Moldova’s breakaway Transnistria region since 1992.

POLAND

UKRAINE

Slovakia

MOLDOVA

Hungary

ROMANIA

Russia occupies about 20% of Ukraine.

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But with a widening chasm in the trans-Atlantic relationship, the Russia that emerged from the collapse of the Soviet Union has been given a big opportunity.

Russia’s president, Vladimir V. Putin, has made clear that his interests do not stop at Ukraine. Experts say he envisions a Soviet-style sphere of influence extending deep into Europe. It is reminiscent of the Cold War, when Germany was split between Russia and the West, and about half a dozen countries were pulled behind the Iron Curtain.

The Soviet Union and Allies in 1989

NATO member

Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

Warsaw Pact Members

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ICELAND

FINLAND

NATO’S

CURRENT

EASTERN

BORDER

RUSSIA

NORWAY

SWEDEN

ESTONIA

LATVIA

KAZAKHSTAN

LITHUANIA

UZBEKISTAN

BELARUS

U.K.

POLAND

EAST

Germany

UKRAINE

WEST

Germany

CZECHOSLOVAKIA

TURKMENISTAN

MOLDOVA

France

HUNGARY

AZERBAIJAN

GEORGIA

ROMANIA

ARMENIA

Yugoslavia

BULGARIA

IRAN

Portugal

ITALY

TURKEY

ALBANIA

Spain

IRAQ

GREECE

SYRIA

NATO’S

CURRENT

EASTERN

BORDER

ICELAND

RUSSIA

FINLAND

NORWAY

BELARUS

U.K.

POLAND

Germany

UKRAINE

CZECHOSLOVAKIA

France

GEORGIA

ROMANIA

ITALY

Spain

TURKEY

GREECE

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“No state has upended the international order more in this century than Russia,” Jintro Pauly, a policy adviser for the Munich Security Conference, wrote in an analysis published at the forum’s annual meeting in Germany last month. “It has structurally destabilized its neighborhood and violated its neighbors’ sovereignty.”

A More Militarized Europe

Even if Mr. Putin wins a favorable peace deal in Ukraine, ending up with more Ukrainian territory than it initially seized in 2014, analysts say he would be ill-advised to test NATO’s borders. The alliance has more than twice the military forces of Russia, and European leaders are increasing defense spending and moving more swiftly than at any point since the end of the Cold War to ramp up weapons production.

If anything, the shift in tone from Washington has injected a new sense of urgency in Europe.

The American nuclear umbrella has protected Europe for generations, but both Britain and France have raised the possibility of extending their own arsenals to cover the continent. Germany’s incoming chancellor appears ready to start those discussions, as do the leaders of Poland.

Russian aggression has also ended up strengthening NATO. Mr. Putin has insisted that the military alliance withdraw from much of Central and Eastern Europe. Instead, it has grown.

Finland and Sweden, both of which had tried for decades to steer clear of superpower gamesmanship, joined NATO after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. Now, as American support threatens to wane, both states are bolstering alliances in Europe.

“By sticking together between the Nordic countries, when times are good and times are worse, in the long run you gain something very important,” Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson of Sweden said at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January. “You have friends to rely on, basically.”

Alexander Gabuev, the director of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center in Berlin, said it was doubtful that Mr. Putin would launch a full-scale invasion of a NATO country. But he might embark on what Mr. Gabuev called an “adventure tour.”

That might mean sending troops across the border into the predominantly Russian-speaking town of Narva, in Estonia. Or he could try to establish a so-called land bridge through the Suwalki Gap between Poland and Lithuania to connect the Russian enclave Kaliningrad with Belarus, a Moscow vassal.

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100 miles

ESTONIA

RUSSIA

LATVIA

Baltic

Sea

LITHUANIA

RUSSIA

Kaliningrad

BELARUS

The Suwałki Gap is a vulnerable land corridor Russia could target to isolate the Baltics from NATO.

POLAND

UKRAINE

100 miles

Baltic

Sea

ESTONIA

RUSSIA

LATVIA

LITHUANIA

RUSSIA

Kaliningrad

BELARUS

The Suwałki Gap is a vulnerable land corridor Russia could target to isolate the Baltics from NATO.

UKRAINE

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Estonia, Lithuania and Poland are all members of NATO. If the alliance did not respond to a Russian incursion there, Mr. Gabuev said, then Mr. Putin could show the hollowness of a core NATO tenet, Article 5: the declaration that an attack on one member is an attack on all.

NATO’s top commander, Gen. Christopher G. Cavoli of the United States, said that Russia intends to triple the size of its military after the war in Ukraine ends. It also plans to build up its military presence on NATO borders, particularly those with Finland and the Baltic states.

Already, Russia is suspected of launching a barrage of hybrid attacks — among them exploding parcels on cargo planes, undersea cable cuts and swarms of surveillance drones — to destabilize Europe.

“In words, intentions and actions, it’s pretty plain that this is not limited in Russia’s thinking to the conflict in Ukraine,” General Cavoli said at the Davos forum.

Finding Cracks in Political Systems

Moscow’s forays into Europe are not confined to the military. It has also sought to weaken its European adversaries by undermining their political systems.

In some cases, Russia is believed to have directly financed the election campaigns of candidates friendly to its interests. Other times it has fomented support for far-right or Euroskeptic parties, including through disinformation campaigns.

Russia’s political reach in Europe

Russian treaty allies

Russia-friendly governments

Major Russia-friendly parties

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ICELAND

FINLAND

NATO’S

EASTERN

BORDER

RUSSIA

NORWAY

SWEDEN

ESTONIA

KAZAKHSTAN

LATVIA

LITHUANIA

BELARUS

UZBEKISTAN

U.K.

POLAND

Germany

Czech Rep.

TURKMENISTAN

SLOVAKIA

MOLDOVA

AUSTRIA

France

HUNGARY

AZERBAIJAN

ROMANIA

GEORGIA

ARMENIA

SERBIA

BOSNIA AND

HERZEGOVINA

BULGARIA

Portugal

ITALY

TURKEY

Spain

GREECE

SYRIA

NATO’S

CURRENT

EASTERN

BORDER

ICELAND

RUSSIA

FINLAND

NORWAY

Kazakhstan

BELARUS

U.K.

POLAND

Germany

UKRAINE

GEORGIA

HUNGARY

France

ROMANIA

ARMENIA

SERBIA

ITALY

Spain

TURKEY

GREECE

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Note: Major parties include those that received more than 10 percent of the vote in the last election, or have recently held significant roles in government. Governments categorized as Russia-friendly include those with at least one major pro-Russian coalition partner.

In Germany, for example, politicians from the far-right party Alternative for Germany have been suspected by the authorities of getting backing from Russia. (Two prominent members have denied such support.) The party, known as the AfD, has long been viewed as extremist by other German parties and officials elsewhere in Europe and the United States. But on a trip to Germany last month, Vice President JD Vance chided Europeans for shunning far-right parties in comments widely interpreted as a defense of the AfD.

In Hungary, Prime Minister Viktor Orban has bucked NATO and E.U. support for Ukraine and kept up relations with Mr. Putin — to the rest of Europe’s dismay. President Trump has praised him as “a great man, a great leader.”

In Romania, the ultranationalist politician Calin Gorgescu has been barred from running in upcoming presidential elections. Last December, the country’s Constitutional Court said it suspected Russian meddling had supported his campaign, although it produced no solid evidence of it. Mr. Vance criticized that ruling, too.

And in Moldova, the pro-E.U. president, Maia Sandu, won re-election last October against a challenger she accused of being “Moscow’s man.” He was buoyed by vote-buying and other foreign efforts to influence the results, but after he lost, the Trump administration cut vital grants to pro-democracy, human rights and free press groups in Moldova that had been provided by the U.S. Agency for International Development.

“Russia really is capitalizing on cracks in the European political system that already exist,” Mr. Gabuev said.

That will be even easier if Mr. Putin can rely on the United States as an accessory.

Putin Has Become More Unpopular in Europe

Disdain for Mr. Putin has increasingly hurt public perception of Russia and its political standing across Europe, according to polling from Gallup, which has asked people whether they approved or disapproved of Russia’s leadership annually since 2007.

Share of people that disapprove of Russian leadership

Do you approve or disapprove of the job performance of the leadership of Russia?

Source: Gallup

But pockets of support remain.

Serbia and Serb-led areas in Bosnia and Herzegovina maintain longstanding religious and cultural ties to Russia, even as they try to maintain a balance with the European Union. “Everyone here likes Putin and Trump,” Sasa Bozic, the owner of the Putin cafe in the Bosnian city of Banja Luka, recently told a New York Times reporter.

Serbia has traditionally had a close relationship with Russia, although its president, Aleksandar Vucic, has bristled at being described as a “little Putin.” Last month, Mr. Vucic sent security forces to raid the offices of activist groups that received U.S.A.I.D funding to document government corruption, human rights abuses and electoral fraud.

The Trump administration has since gutted U.S.A.I.D. And earlier this month, the president’s son, Donald Trump Jr., met with Mr. Vucic in Belgrade, where the Trump family seeks to build a luxury hotel on the site of the former Ministry of Defense, which was bombed by NATO 26 years ago.

Yet nowhere in Europe does Russia have as much of a political foothold as in Belarus, in a relationship that the Council on Foreign Relations has termed “an axis of autocracy.”

Belarus’s president, Aleksandr Lukashenko, tried for years to balance diplomacy between Russia and the West. But when political uprisings broke out in 2020, he was saved from being ousted by Mr. Putin’s economic and security support. He later allowed Russia’s military to use Belarus as a base of operations against Ukraine.

Mr. Putin recently described the ties between the two countries as “special, allied and truly fraternal.”

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It is not just the war in Ukraine. Moscow has also stationed military forces in friendly countries and fanned the flames of destabilizing political movements across the continent."},{type:"text",value:"Now, as the Trump administration strikes a conciliatory tone toward Russia and pulls away from some of America’s oldest allies, European leaders who long enjoyed the backing of the powerful U.S. military sense an extraordinary moment of vulnerability."},{type:"text",value:"For nearly 80 years, the United States has been the defensive and financial cornerstone of democratic security pacts created after World War II, in large part to keep the Soviet Union \u003Ca href=\"https://www.nato.int/cps/fr/natohq/declassified_138298.htm\">from marching across Europe\u003C/a>. And even now, more than 80,000 American troops are deployed in Europe, some in a show of force right on Russia’s doorstep."},{type:"graphic",value:{media:{assetType:"graphic",assetSlug:"zoomed_mil.html",breakpointName:void 0,assetErrors:[],html:"\n\u003C!-- Generated by ai2html v0.121.1 - 2025-03-28 09:10 -->\n\u003C!-- ai file: zoomed_mil.ai -->\n\u003Cstyle media=\"screen,print\">\n\t#g-zoomed_mil-box ,\n\t#g-zoomed_mil-box .g-artboard {\n\t\tmargin:0 auto;\n\t}\n\t#g-zoomed_mil-box p {\n\t\tmargin:0;\n\t}\n\t#g-zoomed_mil-box .g-aiAbs {\n\t\tposition:absolute;\n\t}\n\t#g-zoomed_mil-box .g-aiImg {\n\t\tposition:absolute;\n\t\ttop:0;\n\t\tdisplay:block;\n\t\twidth:100% !important;\n\t}\n\t#g-zoomed_mil-box .g-aiSymbol {\n\t\tposition: absolute;\n\t\tbox-sizing: border-box;\n\t}\n\t#g-zoomed_mil-box .g-aiPointText p { white-space: nowrap; }\n\t#g-zoomed_mil-Artboard_1 {\n\t\tposition:relative;\n\t\toverflow:hidden;\n\t}\n\t#g-zoomed_mil-Artboard_1 p 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class=\"g-pstyle0\">LITHUANIA\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-7\" class=\"g-annotations g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:49.0715%;margin-top:-13.2px;left:9.9099%;margin-left:-30.5px;width:61px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">RUSSIA\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-8\" class=\"g-annotations g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:49.2055%;margin-top:-13.2px;left:37.9479%;margin-left:-36px;width:72px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">BELARUS\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-9\" class=\"g-shapes g-aiAbs\" style=\"top:51.8548%;left:27.7096%;width:22%;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle3\">Belarus hosts Russian nuclear weapons and troops.\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-10\" class=\"g-shapes g-aiAbs\" style=\"top:54.1327%;left:0.9888%;width:17.8333%;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle3\">Kaliningrad is a heavily militarized Russian exclave.\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-11\" class=\"g-annotations g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:65.6826%;margin-top:-15.2px;left:51.6376%;width:78px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle4\">UKRAINE\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-12\" class=\"g-shapes g-aiAbs\" style=\"top:68.7378%;left:48.1465%;width:22%;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle3\">Russian troops have occupied Moldova’s breakaway Transnistria region since 1992.\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-13\" class=\"g-annotations g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:70.9122%;margin-top:-13.2px;left:11.5331%;margin-left:-33px;width:66px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">POLAND\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-14\" class=\"g-annotations g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:80.8276%;margin-top:-13.2px;left:7.8755%;margin-left:-37px;width:74px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">Slovakia\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-15\" class=\"g-annotations g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:82.7035%;margin-top:-13.2px;left:42.5513%;width:75px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle5\">MOLDOVA\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-16\" class=\"g-annotations g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:89.8051%;margin-top:-13.2px;left:7.6756%;margin-left:-37.5px;width:75px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">Hungary\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-17\" class=\"g-annotations g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:93.2889%;margin-top:-13.2px;left:33.6044%;margin-left:-36.5px;width:73px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">ROMANIA\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-18\" class=\"g-shapes g-aiAbs\" style=\"top:95.5362%;left:74.6857%;width:21%;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle3\">Russia occupies about 20% of Ukraine.\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\u003C/div>\n\n\t\u003C!-- Artboard: Artboard_2 -->\n\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-zoomed_mil-Artboard_2\" class=\"g-artboard\" style=\"max-width: 599px;max-height: 1143px\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.524\" data-min-width=\"0\" data-max-width=\"599\">\n\u003Cdiv style=\"padding: 0 0 190.8575% 0;\">\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cimg id=\"g-zoomed_mil-Artboard_2-img\" class=\"g-zoomed_mil-Artboard_2-img g-aiImg\" alt=\"\" data-src=\"https://static01.nytimes.com/newsgraphics/2025-03-06-russian-european-influence/9e8ec845-4493-4ef6-bf9c-4200df37a747/_assets/zoomed_mil-Artboard_2.jpg\" src=\"data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhCgAKAIAAAB8fHwAAACH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAAKAAoAAAIIhI+py+0PYysAOw==\"/>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai1-1\" class=\"g-annotations g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:20.0685%;margin-top:-21.2px;right:82.4232%;width:78px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">NATO’S\u003C/p>\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">EASTERN\u003C/p>\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\"> BORDER\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai1-2\" class=\"g-annotations g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:30.1594%;margin-top:-8.7px;left:14.8325%;margin-left:-32.5px;width:65px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle1\">FINLAND\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai1-3\" class=\"g-annotations g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:41.1786%;margin-top:-12.2px;left:71.084%;margin-left:-55px;width:110px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle2\">RUSSIA\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai1-4\" class=\"g-annotations g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:42.6418%;margin-top:-8.7px;left:16.3676%;margin-left:-32px;width:64px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle1\">ESTONIA\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai1-5\" class=\"g-shapes g-aiAbs\" style=\"bottom:43.9491%;left:1.4159%;width:20.2941%;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle3\">Kaliningrad is a heavily militarized Russian exclave.\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai1-6\" class=\"g-annotations g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:51.7338%;margin-top:-8.7px;left:23.7816%;margin-left:-27.5px;width:55px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle1\">LATVIA\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai1-7\" class=\"g-annotations g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:56.8193%;margin-top:-8.7px;left:13.8866%;margin-left:-36.5px;width:73px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle1\">LITHUANIA\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai1-8\" class=\"g-annotations g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:60.3636%;margin-top:-8.7px;left:36.2131%;margin-left:-34px;width:68px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle1\">BELARUS\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai1-9\" class=\"g-annotations g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:60.3636%;margin-top:-8.7px;left:5.8138%;margin-left:-29px;width:58px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle1\">RUSSIA\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai1-10\" class=\"g-shapes g-aiAbs\" style=\"top:62.72%;left:22.2125%;width:36.7647%;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle3\">Belarus hosts Russian nuclear weapons and troops.\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai1-11\" class=\"g-shapes g-aiAbs\" style=\"bottom:18.9397%;left:22.2125%;width:38.5294%;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle3\">Russian troops have occupied Moldova’s breakaway Transnistria region since 1992.\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai1-12\" class=\"g-annotations g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:73.1542%;margin-top:-8.7px;left:6.796%;margin-left:-31.5px;width:63px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle1\">POLAND\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai1-13\" class=\"g-annotations g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:74.0746%;margin-top:-9.7px;left:65.2232%;width:74px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle4\">UKRAINE\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai1-14\" class=\"g-annotations g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:83.4791%;margin-top:-8.7px;left:7.6784%;margin-left:-34.5px;width:69px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle1\">Slovakia\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai1-15\" class=\"g-annotations g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:86.4071%;margin-top:-8.7px;left:41.4229%;width:71px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle5\">MOLDOVA\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai1-16\" class=\"g-annotations g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:88.7186%;margin-top:-8.7px;left:7.9725%;margin-left:-35.5px;width:71px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle1\">Hungary\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai1-17\" class=\"g-annotations g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:92.8794%;margin-top:-8.7px;left:31.1457%;margin-left:-34px;width:68px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle1\">ROMANIA\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai1-18\" class=\"g-shapes g-aiAbs\" style=\"top:94.7735%;left:77.6543%;margin-left:-22.3529%;width:44.7059%;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle6\">Russia occupies about 20% of Ukraine.\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\u003C/div>\n\n\u003C/div>\n\n\u003Cscript type=\"text/javascript\">\n\t(function (containerId, opts) {\n\t\tvar nameSpace = opts.namespace || '';\n\t\tvar 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Array.prototype.slice.call(parent.querySelectorAll(selector)) : [];\n\t\t}\n\n\t\t// based on underscore.js\n\t\tfunction throttle(func, wait) {\n\t\t\tvar timeout = null, previous = 0;\n\t\t\tfunction run() {\n\t\t\t\t\tprevious = Date.now();\n\t\t\t\t\ttimeout = null;\n\t\t\t\t\tfunc();\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\treturn function() {\n\t\t\t\tvar remaining = wait - (Date.now() - previous);\n\t\t\t\tif (remaining \u003C= 0 || remaining > wait) {\n\t\t\t\t\tclearTimeout(timeout);\n\t\t\t\t\trun();\n\t\t\t\t} else if (!timeout) {\n\t\t\t\t\ttimeout = setTimeout(run, remaining);\n\t\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t};\n\t\t}\n\t})(\"g-zoomed_mil-box\", {namespace: \"g-\", setup: window.setupInteractive || window.getComponent});\n\u003C/script>\n\u003C!-- End ai2html - 2025-03-28 09:10 -->\n",mediaComponent:"Graphic"},hed:"",leadin:"",caption:"",altText:"",label:"",source:"",note:"",textAlign:"left",maxWidth:"600px",marginInline:true,marginBlock:true}},{type:"text",value:"But with a widening chasm in the trans-Atlantic relationship, the Russia that emerged from the collapse of the Soviet Union has been given a big opportunity."},{type:"text",value:"Russia’s president, Vladimir V. Putin, has made clear that his interests do not stop at Ukraine. Experts say he envisions a Soviet-style sphere of influence extending deep into Europe. It is reminiscent of the Cold War, when Germany was split between Russia and the West, and about half a dozen countries were pulled behind the Iron Curtain."},{type:"graphic",value:{media:{assetType:"graphic",assetSlug:"1989 situation.html",breakpointName:void 0,assetErrors:[],html:"\n\u003C!-- Generated by ai2html v0.121.1 - 2025-03-28 11:00 -->\n\u003C!-- ai file: 1989 situation.ai -->\n\u003Cstyle media=\"screen,print\">\n\t#g-1989-situation-box ,\n\t#g-1989-situation-box .g-artboard {\n\t\tmargin:0 auto;\n\t}\n\t#g-1989-situation-box p {\n\t\tmargin:0;\n\t}\n\t#g-1989-situation-box .g-aiAbs {\n\t\tposition:absolute;\n\t}\n\t#g-1989-situation-box .g-aiImg {\n\t\tposition:absolute;\n\t\ttop:0;\n\t\tdisplay:block;\n\t\twidth:100% !important;\n\t}\n\t#g-1989-situation-box .g-aiSymbol {\n\t\tposition: absolute;\n\t\tbox-sizing: border-box;\n\t}\n\t#g-1989-situation-box .g-aiPointText p { white-space: nowrap; }\n\t#g-1989-situation-Artboard_1 {\n\t\tposition:relative;\n\t\toverflow:hidden;\n\t}\n\t#g-1989-situation-Artboard_1 p {\n\t\tfont-family:nyt-franklin,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;\n\t\tfont-weight:regular;\n\t\tline-height:14px;\n\t\theight:auto;\n\t\topacity:1;\n\t\tletter-spacing:0em;\n\t\tfont-size:12px;\n\t\ttext-align:left;\n\t\ttext-transform:none;\n\t\tcolor:rgb(0,0,0);\n\t\ttop:1px;\n\t\tposition:static;\n\t\tpadding-bottom:0;\n\t\tpadding-top:0;\n\t\tmix-blend-mode:normal;\n\t\tfont-style:normal;\n\t}\n\t#g-1989-situation-Artboard_1 .g-pstyle0 {\n\t\tfont-weight:500;\n\t\theight:14px;\n\t\topacity:0.3;\n\t\ttext-align:center;\n\t\ttext-transform:uppercase;\n\t\tposition:relative;\n\t}\n\t#g-1989-situation-Artboard_1 .g-pstyle1 {\n\t\tfont-weight:500;\n\t\tline-height:16px;\n\t\theight:16px;\n\t\tletter-spacing:0.09em;\n\t\tfont-size:15px;\n\t\ttext-align:right;\n\t\ttop:1.2px;\n\t\tposition:relative;\n\t}\n\t#g-1989-situation-Artboard_1 .g-pstyle2 {\n\t\tfont-weight:500;\n\t\theight:14px;\n\t\topacity:0.3;\n\t\tletter-spacing:0.333em;\n\t\tfont-size:16px;\n\t\ttext-align:center;\n\t\ttext-transform:uppercase;\n\t\ttop:1.3px;\n\t\tposition:relative;\n\t}\n\t#g-1989-situation-Artboard_1 .g-pstyle3 {\n\t\tfont-weight:500;\n\t\theight:14px;\n\t\topacity:0.3;\n\t\ttext-transform:uppercase;\n\t\tposition:relative;\n\t}\n\t#g-1989-situation-Artboard_1 .g-pstyle4 {\n\t\tfont-weight:500;\n\t\theight:14px;\n\t\topacity:0.3;\n\t\ttext-align:right;\n\t\ttext-transform:uppercase;\n\t\tposition:relative;\n\t}\n\t#g-1989-situation-Artboard_1_copy {\n\t\tposition:relative;\n\t\toverflow:hidden;\n\t}\n\t#g-1989-situation-Artboard_1_copy p {\n\t\tfont-family:nyt-franklin,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;\n\t\tfont-weight:regular;\n\t\tline-height:5px;\n\t\theight:auto;\n\t\topacity:1;\n\t\tletter-spacing:0em;\n\t\tfont-size:11px;\n\t\ttext-align:left;\n\t\ttext-transform:none;\n\t\tcolor:rgb(0,0,0);\n\t\ttop:0.9px;\n\t\tposition:static;\n\t\tpadding-bottom:0;\n\t\tpadding-top:0;\n\t\tmix-blend-mode:normal;\n\t\tfont-style:normal;\n\t}\n\t#g-1989-situation-Artboard_1_copy .g-pstyle0 {\n\t\tfont-weight:500;\n\t\tline-height:12px;\n\t\theight:12px;\n\t\tletter-spacing:0.09em;\n\t\tfont-size:12px;\n\t\ttext-align:right;\n\t\ttop:1px;\n\t\tposition:relative;\n\t}\n\t#g-1989-situation-Artboard_1_copy .g-pstyle1 {\n\t\tfont-weight:500;\n\t\theight:5px;\n\t\topacity:0.3;\n\t\ttext-align:center;\n\t\ttext-transform:uppercase;\n\t\tposition:relative;\n\t}\n\n\u003C/style>\n\n\u003Cdiv id=\"g-1989-situation-box\" class=\"ai2html ai2html-responsive\">\n\n\t\u003C!-- Artboard: Artboard_1 -->\n\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-1989-situation-Artboard_1\" class=\"g-artboard\" style=\"min-width: 1050px;\" data-aspect-ratio=\"1.327\" data-min-width=\"1050\">\n\u003Cdiv style=\"padding: 0 0 75.3333% 0;\">\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cimg id=\"g-1989-situation-Artboard_1-img\" class=\"g-situation-Artboard_1-img g-aiImg\" alt=\"\" data-src=\"https://static01.nytimes.com/newsgraphics/2025-03-06-russian-european-influence/9e8ec845-4493-4ef6-bf9c-4200df37a747/_assets/1989-situation-Artboard_1.svg\" src=\"data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhCgAKAIAAAB8fHwAAACH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAAKAAoAAAIIhI+py+0PYysAOw==\"/>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-1\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:10.9011%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:11.0073%;margin-left:-34px;width:68px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">ICELAND\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-2\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:13.1767%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:48.1326%;margin-left:-34.5px;width:69px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">FINLAND\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-3\" class=\"g-annotations g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:24.1827%;margin-top:-32.3px;right:48.8103%;width:95px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle1\">NATO’S\u003C/p>\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle1\">CURRENT\u003C/p>\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle1\">EASTERN\u003C/p>\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle1\"> BORDER\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-4\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:22.668%;margin-top:-7.3px;left:73.8711%;margin-left:-50.5px;width:101px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle2\">RUSSIA\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-5\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:30.1173%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:33.3472%;margin-left:-34.5px;width:69px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">NORWAY\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-6\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:31.8872%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:39.728%;margin-left:-34.5px;width:69px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">SWEDEN\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-7\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:34.4157%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:50.1498%;margin-left:-33.5px;width:67px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">ESTONIA\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-8\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:38.9669%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:48.7237%;margin-left:-29px;width:58px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">LATVIA\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-9\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:42.1274%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:89.4853%;margin-left:-46.5px;width:93px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">KAZAKHSTAN\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-10\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:43.1388%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:49.5135%;margin-left:-39px;width:78px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">LITHUANIA\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-11\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:46.9315%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:96.6186%;margin-left:-44.5px;width:89px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">UZBEKISTAN\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-12\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:47.0579%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:55.4589%;margin-left:-36px;width:72px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">BELARUS\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-13\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:49.2071%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:19.6374%;margin-left:-22px;width:44px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">U.K.\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-14\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:51.862%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:45.2224%;margin-left:-33px;width:66px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">POLAND\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-15\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:54.6432%;margin-top:-14.2px;left:36.8542%;margin-left:-38px;width:76px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">EAST\u003C/p>\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">Germany\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-16\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:56.5395%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:61.0828%;margin-left:-35px;width:70px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">UKRAINE\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-17\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:60.8379%;margin-top:-14.2px;left:33.8861%;margin-left:-38px;width:76px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">WEST\u003C/p>\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">Germany\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-18\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:60.7115%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:43.0397%;margin-left:-58.5px;width:117px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">CZECHOSLOVAKIA\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-19\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:61.2171%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:95.6463%;margin-left:-53.5px;width:107px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">TURKMENISTAN\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-20\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:62.9871%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:57.4165%;width:75px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle3\">MOLDOVA\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-21\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:66.4005%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:22.9602%;margin-left:-32.5px;width:65px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">France\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-22\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:66.6534%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:46.0431%;margin-left:-37.5px;width:75px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">HUNGARY\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-23\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:66.9062%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:91.1959%;margin-left:-43.5px;width:87px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">AZERBAIJAN\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-24\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:67.2855%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:82.8507%;margin-left:-35px;width:70px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">GEORGIA\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-25\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:68.5497%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:54.2691%;margin-left:-36.5px;width:73px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">ROMANIA\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-26\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:70.446%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:86.7063%;margin-left:-35.5px;width:71px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">ARMENIA\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-27\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:73.8594%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:45.5978%;margin-left:-44.5px;width:89px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">Yugoslavia\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-28\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:76.6407%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:55.4224%;margin-left:-38px;width:76px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">BULGARIA\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-29\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:77.1463%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:94.4741%;margin-left:-24px;width:48px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">IRAN\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-30\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:77.7785%;margin-top:-7.2px;right:93.7775%;width:80px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle4\">Portugal\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-31\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:78.2842%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:36.6273%;margin-left:-24.5px;width:49px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">ITALY\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-32\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:79.8012%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:73.9081%;margin-left:-32.5px;width:65px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">TURKEY\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-33\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:81.6976%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:47.4454%;margin-left:-33.5px;width:67px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">ALBANIA\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-34\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:81.9504%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:11.6449%;margin-left:-27px;width:54px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">Spain\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-35\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:85.4902%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:88.8507%;margin-left:-23.5px;width:47px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">IRAQ\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-36\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:86.2488%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:51.3317%;margin-left:-32.5px;width:65px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">GREECE\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-37\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:88.0187%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:80.9065%;margin-left:-26.5px;width:53px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">SYRIA\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\u003C/div>\n\n\t\u003C!-- Artboard: Artboard_1_copy -->\n\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-1989-situation-Artboard_1_copy\" class=\"g-artboard\" style=\"max-width: 1049px;max-height: 866px\" data-aspect-ratio=\"1.211\" data-min-width=\"0\" data-max-width=\"1049\">\n\u003Cdiv style=\"padding: 0 0 82.5709% 0;\">\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cimg id=\"g-1989-situation-Artboard_1_copy-img\" class=\"g-situation-Artboard_1_copy-img g-aiImg\" alt=\"\" data-src=\"https://static01.nytimes.com/newsgraphics/2025-03-06-russian-european-influence/9e8ec845-4493-4ef6-bf9c-4200df37a747/_assets/1989-situation-Artboard_1_copy.svg\" src=\"data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhCgAKAIAAAB8fHwAAACH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAAKAAoAAAIIhI+py+0PYysAOw==\"/>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai1-1\" class=\"g-e g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:15.0415%;margin-top:-24.2px;right:49.6918%;width:80px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">NATO’S\u003C/p>\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">CURRENT\u003C/p>\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">EASTERN\u003C/p>\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\"> BORDER\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai1-2\" class=\"g-e g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:11.6509%;margin-top:-2.7px;left:11.6665%;margin-left:-32.5px;width:65px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle1\">ICELAND\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai1-3\" 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The alliance has \u003Ca href=\"https://www.statista.com/statistics/1293174/nato-russia-military-comparison/\">more than twice\u003C/a> the military forces of Russia, and European leaders are increasing defense spending and moving more swiftly than at any point since the end of the Cold War to ramp up weapons production."},{type:"text",value:"If anything, the shift in tone from Washington has injected a new sense of urgency in Europe."},{type:"text",value:"The American nuclear umbrella has protected Europe for generations, but both Britain and France have raised the possibility of extending their own arsenals to cover the continent. Germany’s incoming chancellor \u003Ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/15/world/europe/nuclear-deterrent-trump.html\">appears ready\u003C/a> to start those discussions, as do the leaders of Poland."},{type:"text",value:"Russian aggression has also ended up strengthening NATO. Mr. Putin has insisted that the military alliance withdraw from much of Central and Eastern Europe. Instead, it has grown."},{type:"text",value:"Finland and Sweden, both of which had tried for decades to steer clear of superpower gamesmanship, joined NATO after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. Now, as American support threatens to wane, both states are bolstering alliances in Europe."},{type:"text",value:"“By sticking together between the Nordic countries, when times are good and times are worse, in the long run you gain something very important,” Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson of Sweden \u003Ca href=\"https://www.weforum.org/meetings/world-economic-forum-annual-meeting-2025/sessions/peace-through-strength/\">said at the World Economic Forum in Davos\u003C/a> in January. “You have friends to rely on, basically.”"},{type:"text",value:"Alexander Gabuev, the \u003Ca href=\"https://carnegieendowment.org/people/alexander-gabuev?lang=en\">director\u003C/a> of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center in Berlin, said it was doubtful that Mr. Putin would launch a full-scale invasion of a NATO country. But he might embark on what Mr. Gabuev called an “adventure tour.”"},{type:"text",value:"That might mean sending troops across the border into the predominantly Russian-speaking town of Narva, in Estonia. Or he could try to establish a so-called land bridge through the Suwalki Gap between Poland and Lithuania to connect the Russian enclave Kaliningrad with Belarus, a Moscow vassal."},{type:"graphic",value:{media:{assetType:"graphic",assetSlug:"gap_map.html",breakpointName:void 0,assetErrors:[],html:"\n\u003C!-- Generated by ai2html v0.121.1 - 2025-03-21 17:08 -->\n\u003C!-- ai file: gap_map.ai -->\n\u003Cstyle media=\"screen,print\">\n\t#g-gap_map-box ,\n\t#g-gap_map-box .g-artboard {\n\t\tmargin:0 auto;\n\t}\n\t#g-gap_map-box p {\n\t\tmargin:0;\n\t}\n\t#g-gap_map-box .g-aiAbs {\n\t\tposition:absolute;\n\t}\n\t#g-gap_map-box .g-aiImg {\n\t\tposition:absolute;\n\t\ttop:0;\n\t\tdisplay:block;\n\t\twidth:100% !important;\n\t}\n\t#g-gap_map-box .g-aiSymbol {\n\t\tposition: absolute;\n\t\tbox-sizing: border-box;\n\t}\n\t#g-gap_map-box .g-aiPointText p { white-space: nowrap; }\n\t#g-gap_map-Artboard_1 {\n\t\tposition:relative;\n\t\toverflow:hidden;\n\t}\n\t#g-gap_map-Artboard_1 p 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style=\"top:54.0794%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:36.8698%;margin-left:-39px;width:78px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle1\">LITHUANIA\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-7\" class=\"g-annotations g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:62.7673%;margin-top:-10.2px;left:27.1633%;margin-left:-31.5px;width:63px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle4\">RUSSIA\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-8\" class=\"g-Layer_1 g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:65.9373%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:22.4537%;width:79px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle5\">Kaliningrad\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-9\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:71.9979%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:57.1425%;margin-left:-36px;width:72px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle1\">BELARUS\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-10\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs\" style=\"top:74.573%;left:18.0504%;width:19.6667%;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle6\">The \u003Cspan 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id=\"g-ai1-4\" class=\"g-annotations g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:31.4602%;margin-top:-10.2px;left:68.6364%;margin-left:-33.5px;width:67px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle3\">RUSSIA\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai1-5\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:41.0108%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:31.7864%;margin-left:-27.5px;width:55px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle2\">LATVIA\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai1-6\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:56.0813%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:25.2989%;margin-left:-36.5px;width:73px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle2\">LITHUANIA\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai1-7\" class=\"g-annotations g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:63.08%;margin-top:-10.2px;left:11.4232%;margin-left:-30px;width:60px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle4\">RUSSIA\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai1-8\" class=\"g-Layer_1 g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:65.6371%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:4.5954%;width:79px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle5\">Kaliningrad\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai1-9\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:70.5151%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:54.5259%;margin-left:-34px;width:68px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle2\">BELARUS\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai1-10\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs\" style=\"top:72.8056%;left:3.7402%;width:31.1751%;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle6\">The \u003Cspan class=\"g-cstyle0\">Suwałki Gap\u003C/span> is a vulnerable land corridor Russia could target to isolate the Baltics from NATO.\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai1-11\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:92.8025%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:80.7228%;margin-left:-33px;width:66px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle2\">UKRAINE\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\u003C/div>\n\n\u003C/div>\n\n\u003Cscript type=\"text/javascript\">\n\t(function 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If the alliance did not respond to a Russian incursion there, Mr. Gabuev said, then Mr. Putin could show the hollowness of a core NATO tenet, Article 5: the declaration that an attack on one member is an attack on all."},{type:"text",value:"NATO’s top commander, Gen. Christopher G. Cavoli of the United States, said that Russia intends to triple the size of its military after the war in Ukraine ends. It also plans to build up its military presence on NATO borders, particularly those with Finland and the Baltic states."},{type:"text",value:"Already, Russia is suspected of launching a barrage of hybrid attacks — among them exploding parcels on cargo planes, undersea cable cuts and swarms of surveillance drones — to destabilize Europe."},{type:"text",value:"“In words, intentions and actions, it’s pretty plain that this is not limited in Russia’s thinking to the conflict in Ukraine,” General Cavoli said at the Davos forum."},{type:"subhed",value:"Finding Cracks in Political Systems\u003C/strong>"},{type:"text",value:"Moscow’s forays into Europe are not confined to the military. It has also sought to weaken its European adversaries by undermining their political systems."},{type:"text",value:"In some cases, Russia is believed to have directly financed the election campaigns of candidates friendly to its interests. Other times it has fomented support for far-right or Euroskeptic parties, including through disinformation campaigns."},{type:"graphic",value:{media:{assetType:"graphic",assetSlug:"pro RU.html",breakpointName:void 0,assetErrors:[],html:"\n\u003C!-- Generated by ai2html v0.121.1 - 2025-03-27 13:17 -->\n\u003C!-- ai file: pro RU.ai -->\n\u003Cstyle media=\"screen,print\">\n\t#g-pro-RU-box ,\n\t#g-pro-RU-box .g-artboard {\n\t\tmargin:0 auto;\n\t}\n\t#g-pro-RU-box p {\n\t\tmargin:0;\n\t}\n\t#g-pro-RU-box .g-aiAbs {\n\t\tposition:absolute;\n\t}\n\t#g-pro-RU-box .g-aiImg {\n\t\tposition:absolute;\n\t\ttop:0;\n\t\tdisplay:block;\n\t\twidth:100% !important;\n\t}\n\t#g-pro-RU-box .g-aiSymbol {\n\t\tposition: absolute;\n\t\tbox-sizing: border-box;\n\t}\n\t#g-pro-RU-box .g-aiPointText p { white-space: nowrap; }\n\t#g-pro-RU-Artboard_1 {\n\t\tposition:relative;\n\t\toverflow:hidden;\n\t}\n\t#g-pro-RU-Artboard_1 p 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class=\"g-pstyle0\">ICELAND\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-2\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:20.13%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:49.8392%;margin-left:-34.5px;width:69px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">FINLAND\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-3\" class=\"g-annotations g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:26.7111%;margin-top:-24.3px;right:49.6578%;width:91px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle1\">NATO’S\u003C/p>\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle1\">EASTERN\u003C/p>\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle1\"> BORDER\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-4\" class=\"g-annotations g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:29.2369%;margin-top:-10.3px;left:70.047%;margin-left:-65px;width:130px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle2\">RUSSIA\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-5\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:30.1173%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:33.3472%;margin-left:-34.5px;width:69px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">NORWAY\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-6\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:31.8872%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:39.728%;margin-left:-34.5px;width:69px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">SWEDEN\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-7\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:34.4157%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:50.1498%;margin-left:-33.5px;width:67px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">ESTONIA\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-8\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:36.1856%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:95.3323%;margin-left:-46.5px;width:93px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">KAZAKHSTAN\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-9\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:39.2197%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:51.6065%;margin-left:-29px;width:58px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">LATVIA\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-10\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:43.2652%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:49.5901%;margin-left:-39px;width:78px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">LITHUANIA\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-11\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:47.0579%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:55.4589%;margin-left:-36px;width:72px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">BELARUS\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-12\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:48.5749%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:96.668%;margin-left:-44.5px;width:89px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">UZBEKISTAN\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-13\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:49.2071%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:19.6374%;margin-left:-22px;width:44px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">U.K.\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-14\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:51.862%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:45.2224%;margin-left:-33px;width:66px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">POLAND\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-15\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:54.5168%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:34.1384%;margin-left:-38px;width:76px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">Germany\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-16\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:59.953%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:40.721%;margin-left:-41.5px;width:83px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">Czech Rep.\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-17\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:61.0907%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:95.6958%;margin-left:-53.5px;width:107px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">TURKMENISTAN\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-18\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:61.8492%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:46.7329%;margin-left:-37px;width:74px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">SLOVAKIA\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-19\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:62.9871%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:57.4165%;width:75px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle3\">MOLDOVA\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-20\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:64.8834%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:39.8163%;margin-left:-33.5px;width:67px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">AUSTRIA\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-21\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:66.4005%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:22.9602%;margin-left:-32.5px;width:65px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">France\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-22\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:66.6534%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:45.8526%;margin-left:-37.5px;width:75px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">HUNGARY\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-23\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:66.9062%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:91.1959%;margin-left:-43.5px;width:87px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">AZERBAIJAN\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-24\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:67.7912%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:54.2691%;margin-left:-36.5px;width:73px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">ROMANIA\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-25\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:68.1704%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:82.5862%;margin-left:-35px;width:70px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">GEORGIA\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-26\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:70.446%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:86.7063%;margin-left:-35.5px;width:71px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">ARMENIA\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-27\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:74.3651%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:48.9503%;margin-left:-30.5px;width:61px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">SERBIA\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-28\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:75.3765%;margin-top:-14.2px;left:42.7516%;margin-left:-49px;width:98px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">BOSNIA AND\u003C/p>\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">HERZEGOVINA\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-29\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:76.6407%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:55.4224%;margin-left:-38px;width:76px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">BULGARIA\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-30\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:77.7785%;margin-top:-7.2px;right:93.7775%;width:80px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle4\">Portugal\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-31\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:78.2842%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:36.6273%;margin-left:-24.5px;width:49px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">ITALY\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-32\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:79.8012%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:73.9081%;margin-left:-32.5px;width:65px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">TURKEY\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-33\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:81.9504%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:11.6449%;margin-left:-27px;width:54px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">Spain\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-34\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:86.2488%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:51.3317%;margin-left:-32.5px;width:65px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">GREECE\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai0-35\" class=\"g-labels g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:88.0187%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:80.9065%;margin-left:-26.5px;width:53px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">SYRIA\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\u003C/div>\n\n\t\u003C!-- Artboard: Artboard_1_copy -->\n\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-pro-RU-Artboard_1_copy\" class=\"g-artboard\" style=\"max-width: 1049px;max-height: 866px\" data-aspect-ratio=\"1.211\" data-min-width=\"0\" data-max-width=\"1049\">\n\u003Cdiv style=\"padding: 0 0 82.5709% 0;\">\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cimg id=\"g-pro-RU-Artboard_1_copy-img\" class=\"g-pro-RU-Artboard_1_copy-img g-aiImg\" alt=\"\" data-src=\"https://static01.nytimes.com/newsgraphics/2025-03-06-russian-european-influence/9e8ec845-4493-4ef6-bf9c-4200df37a747/_assets/pro-RU-Artboard_1_copy.svg\" src=\"data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhCgAKAIAAAB8fHwAAACH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAAKAAoAAAIIhI+py+0PYysAOw==\"/>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai1-1\" class=\"g-e g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:15.0416%;margin-top:-24.2px;right:49.6919%;width:80px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">NATO’S\u003C/p>\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">CURRENT\u003C/p>\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\">EASTERN\u003C/p>\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle0\"> BORDER\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai1-2\" class=\"g-e g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:11.6509%;margin-top:-2.7px;left:11.6665%;margin-left:-32.5px;width:65px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle1\">ICELAND\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai1-3\" class=\"g-e g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:23.7618%;margin-top:-2.7px;left:78.272%;margin-left:-29px;width:58px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle1\">RUSSIA\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai1-4\" class=\"g-e g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:26.6114%;margin-top:-2.7px;left:52.5871%;margin-left:-32.5px;width:65px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle1\">FINLAND\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai1-5\" class=\"g-e g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:30.5296%;margin-top:-2.7px;left:34.9073%;margin-left:-32.5px;width:65px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle1\">NORWAY\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai1-6\" class=\"g-e g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:46.2024%;margin-top:-2.7px;right:0.3402%;width:87px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle2\">Kazakhstan\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai1-7\" class=\"g-e g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:49.4082%;margin-top:-2.7px;left:61.0441%;margin-left:-34px;width:68px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle1\">BELARUS\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai1-8\" class=\"g-e g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:50.4768%;margin-top:-2.7px;left:20.9791%;margin-left:-21px;width:42px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle1\">U.K.\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai1-9\" class=\"g-e g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:52.6141%;margin-top:-2.7px;left:48.2201%;margin-left:-31.5px;width:63px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle1\">POLAND\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai1-10\" class=\"g-e g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:57.2447%;margin-top:-2.7px;left:35.9338%;margin-left:-36px;width:72px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle1\">Germany\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai1-11\" class=\"g-e g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:57.6008%;margin-top:-2.7px;left:66.1022%;margin-left:-33px;width:66px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle1\">UKRAINE\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai1-12\" class=\"g-e g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:66.862%;margin-top:-2.7px;left:88.9663%;margin-left:-33px;width:66px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle1\">GEORGIA\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai1-13\" class=\"g-e g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:66.862%;margin-top:-2.7px;left:49.4569%;margin-left:-35.5px;width:71px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle1\">HUNGARY\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai1-14\" class=\"g-e g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:67.9306%;margin-top:-2.7px;left:24.4352%;margin-left:-31px;width:62px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle1\">France\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai1-15\" class=\"g-e g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" style=\"top:70.424%;margin-top:-2.7px;left:58.4477%;margin-left:-34px;width:68px;\">\n\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\"g-pstyle1\">ROMANIA\u003C/p>\n\t\t\u003C/div>\n\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\"g-ai1-16\" class=\"g-e g-aiAbs g-aiPointText\" 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Governments categorized as Russia-friendly include those with at least one major pro-Russian coalition partner.",credit:"",textAlign:"center",maxWidth:"1050px",marginInline:false,marginBlock:true,key:{align:"center",items:[{type:"swatch",labels:"Russian treaty allies, Russia-friendly governments, Major Russia-friendly parties",symbols:"square",fills:"#eaa3a0, #ffc880, #ffe5c5"}]}}},{type:"text",value:"In Germany, for example, politicians from the far-right party \u003Ca href=\"https://www.state.gov/reports/2023-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/germany/\">Alternative for Germany\u003C/a> have been \u003Ca href=\"https://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/afd-spionageaffaere-russland-und-china-im-fokus-neue-enthuellungen-belasten-die-partei-1714480876-a-a1c05e64-b6bc-4c6b-844e-a78a32ec4f91\">suspected\u003C/a> by the authorities of getting backing from Russia. (Two prominent members have denied such support.) The party, known as the AfD, has long been viewed as extremist by other German parties and officials elsewhere in Europe and the United States. But on a trip to Germany last month, Vice President JD Vance chided Europeans for shunning far-right parties in comments \u003Ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/14/world/europe/vance-europe-immigration-ukraine.html\">widely interpreted\u003C/a> as a defense of the AfD."},{type:"text",value:"In Hungary, Prime Minister Viktor Orban has bucked NATO and E.U. support for Ukraine and kept up relations with Mr. Putin — to the rest of Europe’s dismay. President Trump has praised him as “a great man, a great leader.”"},{type:"text",value:"In Romania, the ultranationalist politician Calin Gorgescu has been barred from running in upcoming presidential elections. Last December, the country’s Constitutional Court said it suspected Russian meddling had supported his campaign, although it produced no solid evidence of it. Mr. Vance criticized that ruling, too."},{type:"text",value:"And in Moldova, the pro-E.U. president, Maia Sandu, won re-election last October against a challenger she accused of being “Moscow’s man.” He was buoyed by vote-buying and other foreign efforts to influence the results, but after he lost, the Trump administration \u003Ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/eastern-europe-trump-usaid-freeze-foreign-aid-2d1ee6aa888063731cabd39e257b72b6\">cut vital grants\u003C/a> to pro-democracy, human rights and free press groups in Moldova that had been provided by the U.S. Agency for International Development."},{type:"text",value:"“Russia really is capitalizing on cracks in the European political system that already exist,” Mr. Gabuev said."},{type:"text",value:"That will be even easier if Mr. Putin can rely on the United States as an accessory."},{type:"subhed",value:"Putin Has Become More Unpopular in Europe\u003C/strong>"},{type:"text",value:"Disdain for Mr. Putin has increasingly hurt public perception of Russia and its political standing across Europe, according to polling from Gallup, which has asked people whether they approved or disapproved of Russia’s leadership annually since 2007."},{type:"svelte",value:{component:"lines",className:"linechart",wrapper:true,hed:"Share of people that \u003Cb>disapprove of Russian leadership\u003C/b>",leadin:"Do you approve or disapprove of the job performance of the leadership of Russia?",source:"Source: Gallup",textAlign:"left",maxWidth:"1050px",marginInline:true,marginBlock:true,altText:""}},{type:"text",value:"But pockets of support remain."},{type:"text",value:"Serbia and Serb-led areas in Bosnia and Herzegovina maintain longstanding religious and cultural ties to Russia, even as they try to maintain a balance with the European Union. “Everyone here likes Putin and Trump,” Sasa Bozic, the owner of the Putin cafe in the Bosnian city of Banja Luka, recently \u003Ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/04/world/europe/russia-trump-bosnia.html\">told a New York Times reporter\u003C/a>."},{type:"text",value:"Serbia has traditionally had a close relationship with Russia, although its president, Aleksandar Vucic, has bristled at being described as a “\u003Ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/12/world/europe/serbia-vucic-russia.html\">little Putin\u003C/a>.” Last month, Mr. Vucic sent security forces to raid the offices of activist groups that received U.S.A.I.D funding to document government corruption, human rights abuses and electoral fraud."},{type:"text",value:"The Trump administration has since gutted U.S.A.I.D. And earlier this month, the president’s son, Donald Trump Jr., met with Mr. Vucic in Belgrade, where the Trump family seeks to build a luxury hotel on the site of the former Ministry of Defense, which was bombed by NATO 26 years ago."},{type:"text",value:"Yet nowhere in Europe does Russia have as much of a political foothold as in Belarus, in a relationship that the Council on Foreign Relations has termed “an axis of autocracy.”"},{type:"text",value:"Belarus’s president, Aleksandr Lukashenko, tried for years to balance diplomacy between Russia and the West. But when political uprisings broke out in 2020, he was saved from being ousted by Mr. Putin’s economic and security support. He later allowed Russia’s military to use Belarus as a base of operations against Ukraine."},{type:"text",value:"Mr. Putin recently described the ties between the two countries as “special, allied and truly fraternal.”"}],theme:"news",sheets:{}},"uses":{"url":1}}], form: null, error: null, params: {}, route: {"id":"/index"} }); }); }