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Moldova’s challenge reveals Eastern Europe in transition

For much of the past decade, Russia projected an image of durable influence across its near abroad and beyond. From Eastern Europe to the Middle East, Moscow cultivated the perception that it could sustain allies, freeze conflicts, and deter challenges to its authority. That perception is now beginning to erode. The war in Ukraine, far from delivering decisive strategic gains, has instead exposed the limits of Russian power—and, perhaps more importantly, encouraged others to test those limits.