Meet the world’s most dangerous man.

Who is the real Vladimir Putin? What does he want? And what will he do next?

Despite the millions of words written on Putin’s Russia, the West still failsto truly understand one of the world’s most powerful politicians, whoseinfluence spans the globe and whose networks of power reach into the very heartof our daily lives.

Professor Mark Galeotti uncovers the man behind the myth, addressing the keymisperceptions of Putin and explaining how we can decipher his motivations andnext moves. From Putin’s early life in the KGB, to the war with Ukraine, hisreal relationship with the US and his vision for the future of Russia -Galeotti draws on Russian sources and explosive unpublished accounts to giveunparalleled insight into the man at the heart of global politics.

‘Easily the shrewdest and most insightful analysis yet of Putinspolicymaking‘ –Foreign Affairs

‘Punchy and highly readable‘ –TLS

‘Reads like a primer for anyone poised to enter a negotiation with theRussian president‘ –The Guardian

About the Author

Mark Galeottiis one of the worlds leadingexperts on Russian crime and security (which are often one and the same), whichmay explain why Moscow banned him in 2022. After a stint with the ForeignOffice, he has been a scholar and think-tanker in London, New York, Moscow,Prague and Florence.

He now heads the consultancy Mayak Intelligence and is anhonorary professor at University College London and a senior fellow with RUSIand the Council on Geostrategy.

A prolific author, he frequently acts as consultant tovarious government, commercial and law-enforcement agencies and has briefedeveryone from prime ministers to CEOs.