Mood in Russia turns bleak as war in Ukraine drags and economy suffers

The Washington Post reports that Russian President Vladimir Putin's approval ratings are declining as the Ukraine war enters its fifth year, with Russian citizens expressing growing despair amid stalled peace negotiations and deepening economic sanctions. The reporting is sourced from established journalists (Catherine Belton and Natalia Abbakumova) covering Russia for a major national outlet, lending credibility to the account of deteriorating public sentiment. Independent corroboration from Al Jazeera, Forbes, and the New York Times confirms the broader narrative: Russian oil exports are slumping, economic pressures are mounting, and polling director Denis Volkov (Levada Center) attributes growing public dissatisfaction primarily to worsening economic conditions rather than war fatigue alone. Watch for further shifts in Russian public opinion polls and any policy responses from the Kremlin to address economic pressures, as well as developments in peace negotiations, which remain stalled according to multiple sources.