Russia vs. US & the West: 3 Ways Vladimir Putin is Dividing and Conquering Europe

Russia's increasingly tense relationship with the U.S. and the West appears to indicate that Vladimir Putin has no intentions of backing down and is all geared up for a showdown, likely involving nuclear weapons, with America and NATO.

Putin, in fact, is on a mission to undermine the West, which makes sense in case a shooting war erupts, and according to Paul Ames of Global Post, the Russian leader's tactics are gaining traction.

Ames provided Putin's designs as below:

Courting Turkey

NATO would want to convince the world that it is solidly united against Putin's recent annexation of Crimea and will stand in the way of Russia once the Ukrainian border is further breached on Kremlin's orders.

Putin, however, is proving otherwise and is pointing to a major fissure plaguing the North Atlantic military alliance playing cosy with key NATO member Turkey, Ames wrote. And Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan appears receptive to the Russian overture.

As of last week, Erdogan has declared that Ankara and Moscow are friends, which is understandable due mostly to a host of economic and political reasons. It is hardly surprising too that Putin will find a common ground with Putin as Daisy Sindelar wrote for RFE/RL, the two leaders have key similar traits and backgrounds to easily agree with each other.

Bottom line for Putin on his Turkey initiative is - he is finding success in his attempts to undercut NATO's resolve on the Ukrainian issue, Ames said.

Cultivating political and business allies in Europe

Putin's efforts to undermine the West involves too the recruitment of friendlies that will be favourable to Moscow's case. In Italy, France and Germany, the Kremlin has been fairly successful in building up network of allies that Putin hopes would translate to solid support for Russia when needed.

These friends are found both on the political and economic spheres and Russia has been generous enough in funding the projects and needs of these contacts.

The hope, Ames said, is most of these figures would rise to prominence and power and take on positions that the Kremlin can count on.

Building propaganda machines

And one solid proof that Moscow is using multi-pronged approach to push forward its agenda in Ukraine and beyond, Putin cleared the way for a propaganda blitz that would present and argue Russia's case before the European public.

Russian media outlets are establishing local branches in Britain and Germany, which signified that the charming Putin is a firm believer in the power of media and the limitless possibilities of well-crafted public relation program, Ames said.

Propaganda, Ames added, gives Moscow' side on a given issue and even amplifies or exaggerates the Kremlin's military might as boasted by one Putin's campaigner earlier this year that Russia can easily reduce the United States into "radioactive dust."

Now that is stark reminder that Russia currently has the tactical upper-hand, willingness and readiness to wage and win a nuclear war with its enemies, which Putin doesn't hesitate to emphasise at every chance he gets.