00:00The walls are closing in on Russian President Vladimir Putin over his war in Ukraine.
00:04Think about this as Putin's five Ps.
00:07Power, petroleum, prices, peace and popularity.
00:12Let's start with power.
00:13Ukraine is getting stronger, increasing the range and intensity of drone attacks deeper inside Russia.
00:20Strikes are now reaching areas accounting for over 70% of the population,
00:24bringing the war closer to home for ordinary Russians.
00:27Petroleum has been a key target for Ukraine.
00:30Their attacks on oil refineries have triggered nationwide fuel shortages and skyrocketing prices.
00:36High inflation and interest rates have slowed Russia's economy practically to a standstill this year.
00:41The next P could have ended it all for Putin.
00:44Peace.
00:45But there's no sign of any breakthrough in negotiations to end the war.
00:49U.S.-led talks with Ukraine and Russia have stalled,
00:52with President Donald Trump focused on the war in Iran.
00:55Finally, popularity.
00:58Putin's rating and opinion polls with Russians is slipping.
01:01It's now reached the lowest level since the war began in February 2022.
01:06It's important to note that the five Ps don't mean Putin's rule is under immediate threat in Russia,
01:11but with parliamentary elections due in September, that's another P,
01:15the military and economic strains are steadily eroding the Kremlin's efforts
01:19to show that he has everything under control.
01:22P.A.
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