Putin Wants to "Rebuild the Soviet Union" with Georgia in the Crosshairs
By Malkhaz Matsaberidze
Friday, October 23, 2026
Statements by German foreign policy spokesman Johann Wadephul warn that Vladimir Putin seeks to resurrect the Soviet Union-a plan that explicitly targets Georgia, where officials now observe heightened Russian activity. This declaration underscores a clear realization at the highest levels of Western leadership regarding the Kremlin's long-term aggressive ambitions. For Georgia, it serves as a critical signal: international partners are closely monitoring the country's domestic trajectory and the geopolitical threats posed by Moscow. The West clearly perceives the dangers confronting Georgia, demonstrating that the nation has by no means slipped off the global agenda.
Wadephul's interview with the German news outlet ntv generated widespread resonance across international media and political circles. European allies viewed his remarks as yet another stark warning that the war in Ukraine is not merely a localized conflict, but rather part of a large-scale, overarching geopolitical strategy by the Kremlin.
The German official rightly pointed to Putin's notorious characterization of the collapse of the Soviet Union as the "greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th century." This narrative forms the ideological bedrock of contemporary Russian foreign policy and its imperialist ambitions-a declaration that lost spheres of influence must be reclaimed. Analysts concur with Wadephul's assessment that revanchism over the fall of the Soviet empire remains the primary driving force behind the Kremlin's actions.
The declaration ties together the vulnerable nodes of the post-Soviet space-Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova-noting that the Baltic states would face similar peril were they not shielded by NATO and EU membership. This reinforces the indispensable role of Western institutions as a crucial security umbrella.
When Western officials point to "heightened activity" in Georgia, they refer to Russia's deployment of disinformation, political interference, and concerted efforts to alienate the country from European institutions. The European Union expects Georgia to maintain a firm posture against such influence.
A conviction is taking firm root within the EU: leaving "grey zones" in the South Caucasus only invites further Russian aggression. Consequently, Georgia's European perspective is increasingly viewed as an integral component of the broader architecture of European security.
Moscow's actions in Georgia's occupied regions-including so-called "integration treaties," direct control over local administration, and systemic Russification-align precisely with the aggressive policies highlighted by Berlin.
In practice, Russia is attempting to incrementally convert a de facto occupation into formal annexation. Analysts and civil society figures warn that turning a blind eye to these dynamics, or failing to articulate a resolute response, severely jeopardizes Georgian sovereignty.
The ambition to reconstitute the Soviet sphere entails re-establishing total dominance over the Black Sea basin. For Russia, Georgia's coastal position represents a strategic choke point to either block or control key Eurasian trade and energy corridors.
The global geopolitical risks are clearly understood in Western capitals: should Russia absorb Georgia, it would not be a mere localized annexation. It would fundamentally alter the map of Eurasia, extinguish Armenia's prospects of breaking free from Moscow's orbit, and effectively block Western access to Central Asian transit routes.
Any weakening of Western engagement automatically creates a vacuum for Russian power. The Kremlin capitalizes on such lapses to gradually pull Georgia back into its orbit-a reality explicitly highlighted by German diplomatic warnings. Without firm international partners, Georgia is left exposed to severe vulnerabilities, unresolved occupation, and a complete absence of security guarantees.
Against the backdrop of Moscow's neo-imperial push, Euro-Atlantic integration remains Georgia's sole reliable security shield. Distancing the country from Western partners inevitably increases Russian pressure. Deprived of robust Western backing, Georgia becomes exponentially more vulnerable to both hybrid tactics and direct aggression.
Such unambiguous messaging from Berlin demonstrates that Brussels does not view Georgia through the narrow lens of technical reform alone. European partners recognize that Georgia's integration into Europe is a direct counterweight to Russian expansionism.
Should the Kremlin attempt further physical annexations across the post-Soviet space, the Western response will likely involve a drastic escalation of sanctions: completely severing Russia's financial institutions from global markets and targeting the vital economic sectors that fund Moscow's war machine.
Western strategists understand that losing Georgia effectively isolates Armenia and severs its connections to the West. This explains why the EU and the United States are increasingly committed to supporting Armenia's European aspirations and developing diversified regional infrastructure, preventing the South Caucasus from turning into an exclusive Russian corridor.
The Black Sea serves as a crucial lifeline for the Middle Corridor connecting Europe and Asia while bypassing Russia. From a Western strategic standpoint, allowing the eastern shore of the Black Sea to fall entirely under Russian control is unacceptable, elevating the urgency of maritime security and infrastructure investment in the region.
The West will never legitimize annexation. As demonstrated in Ukraine's occupied territories and in Georgia's Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions, any attempt at formal absorption will face strict international non-recognition, accompanied by targeted personal sanctions and financial restrictions against those involved. However, Western leverage ultimately relies on internal alignment: a public and active civil society committed to its European path, steadfast in rejecting a return to Russia's orbit.