Putin’s levers of influence continue to work. Protests against Ukraine in Europe

In September and October of this year, large parts of Latvian society are following the successful counterattack of the Ukrainian army with high hopes, liberating the illegally seized territory of Russia. Meanwhile, protests have been staged in Germany, the Czech Republic and even Poland, opposing sanctions against Russia and sometimes showing open anti-Ukrainian sentiment. While their resonance does not come close to the widespread public support Ukraine still enjoys across Europe, the aforementioned protests indicate that the levers of Russian influence in Europe are still at work.