Putin also doubled down on Russia's military campaign in Ukraine, which has recently witnessed cross-border incursions by pro-Ukrainian militias into Russia
![Alexei Navalny protests [Getty]](/sites/default/files/styles/image_156x88/public/media/images/CCECCDA3-84B8-4098-8ACF-C59950A575D6.jpg?h=d1cb525d&itok=ErpJgtH7 "Alexei Navalny protests [Getty]")
![Angela Merkel [Getty]](/sites/default/files/styles/image_156x88/public/media/images/C8CB507D-3620-4134-8B5A-9A24C6346520.jpg?h=d1cb525d&itok=VxpM2K-r "Angela Merkel [Getty]")
![Protest Russia [GETTY]](/sites/default/files/styles/image_156x88/public/media/images/95C61CB7-7799-41DD-B88C-D358D04AB356.jpg?h=d1cb525d&itok=17EBbMNN "Protest Russia [GETTY]")
![Navalny [AFP]](/sites/default/files/styles/image_156x88/public/media/images/7DE4C3DA-AFCF-4DC2-BE98-550222D4E050.png?h=d1cb525d&itok=zMs3MKV1 "Navalny [AFP]")
![Navalny [AFP]](/sites/default/files/styles/image_156x88/public/media/images/8E963AE7-E6BA-42E0-82D3-76F59B737A3E.png?h=d1cb525d&itok=nbKOLtYs "Navalny [AFP]")
![Alexei Nivalny [GETTY]](/sites/default/files/styles/image_156x88/public/media/images/7BAD56C1-B807-4355-99F5-DAB53D79BB80.jpg?h=d1cb525d&itok=1dp9HHE8 "Alexei Nivalny [GETTY]")
