---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Mr. Putin seems to be playing on every…"
description: "\"Mr. Putin seems to be playing on every chessboard, from what Russia calls its 'near abroad' to the Middle East, from Europe to America.\" — Antony Blinken"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c4/antony-blinken-6122_america_mr-putin-seems-to-be-playing-on-every-ch_2093551.jpg"
---

#  Mr. Putin seems to be playing on every chessboard, from…

![“Mr. Putin seems to be playing on every chessboard, from what Russia calls its 'near abroad' to the Middle East, from Europe to America.” quote by Antony Blinken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c4/antony-blinken-6122_america_mr-putin-seems-to-be-playing-on-every-ch_2093551.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c4/antony-blinken-6122_america_mr-putin-seems-to-be-playing-on-every-ch_2093551.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c4/antony-blinken-6122_america_mr-putin-seems-to-be-playing-on-every-ch_2093551.jpg)

> “Mr. Putin seems to be playing on every chessboard, from what Russia calls its 'near abroad' to the Middle East, from Europe to America.”

[Antony Blinken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-blinken/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Putin engages in strategic influence across multiple regions, affecting global dynamics.

**In simple terms:** Putin is active worldwide.

Key Takeaway

Recognize geopolitical chess moves.

Themes

politics strategy influence

Mood

analytical urgent

Type

political strategic

When to use this quote

- policy analysis
- diplomatic planning
- media monitoring

Key Concepts

realpolitik power projection regional security

Questions to Reflect On

- How does this affect US foreign policy?
- What are the risks of labeling actions as 'chess moves'?

A Different Perspective

Complex motives may be oversimplified.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Europe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/europe/) [Middle east](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle-east/) [Russia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/russia/)

## Related quotes

> [Mr. Putin's primary goal in the 2016 elections was to delegitimize our institutions and pit Americans against each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-blinken/mr-putin-s-primary-goal-in-the-2016-elections-was-to-delegitimize-our/)

[Antony Blinken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-blinken/)

> [ I know Donald's \[Trump\] very praiseworthy of Vladimir Putin, but Putin is playing a really tough, long game here. And one of the things… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-know-donald-s-trump-very-praiseworthy-of-vladimir-putin-but-putin/)

[Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/)

> [Putin is playing the long game. He has a strategic plan in mind: the Eurasian Union, which would be in competition to Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/putin-is-playing-the-long-game-he-has-a-strategic-plan-in-mind-the/)

[Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/)

> [Mr Putin surely knows that the costs of conquering and occupying large amounts of territory in eastern Europe would be prohibitive for Russia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mearsheimer/mr-putin-surely-knows-that-the-costs-of-conquering-and-occupying/)

[John Mearsheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mearsheimer/)

> [It is a very big exaggeration to say I am a friend of Mr. Putin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexei-mordashov/it-is-a-very-big-exaggeration-to-say-i-am-a-friend-of-mr-putin/)

[Alexei Mordashov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexei-mordashov/)

> [Nicholas I has been called 'Genghis Khan with a telegraph.' Stalin was 'Genghis Khan with a telephone.' But Mr. Putin is not Genghis Khan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sebag-montefiore/nicholas-i-has-been-called-genghis-khan-with-a-telegraph-stalin-was/)

[Simon Sebag Montefiore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sebag-montefiore/)

> [As colonial puppeteer and successful restorer of Russia as imperial superpower, Mr. Putin is Stalin's consummate heir.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sebag-montefiore/as-colonial-puppeteer-and-successful-restorer-of-russia-as-imperial/)

[Simon Sebag Montefiore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sebag-montefiore/)

> [“I can distinctly hear the beatings of the wings of the angel of death,” it went, in improbably elegant English, which Litvinenko had barely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-lee-myers/i-can-distinctly-hear-the-beatings-of-the-wings-of-the-angel-of-death/)

[Steven Lee Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-lee-myers/)

> [Many Americans have been looking for an explanation for Mr. Trump's apparent adoration of Mr. Putin. How can a powerful, wealthy American man hold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masha-gessen/many-americans-have-been-looking-for-an-explanation-for-mr-trump-s/)

[Masha Gessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masha-gessen/)

> [We have Mr. Putin in Russia. And he appears to be a popular president of Russia. And I don't think it's the business of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/we-have-mr-putin-in-russia-and-he-appears-to-be-a-popular-president/)

[Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/)

> [Mr. Putin has to understand that if he does something against us Belarusians, it will seriously damage the relationship between the Russian and Belarusian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sviatlana-tsikhanouskaya/mr-putin-has-to-understand-that-if-he-does-something-against-us/)

[Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sviatlana-tsikhanouskaya/)

> [Just recently, President Donald Trump said that he believes that Mr. Vladimir Putin, when he said he didn't know about interfering in our elections…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-cardin/just-recently-president-donald-trump-said-that-he-believes-that-mr/)

[Ben Cardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-cardin/)

> [Mr. Obama said that he personally told Mr. Putin to knock it off and vows to retaliate. But the Obama presidency is coming to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dickerson/mr-obama-said-that-he-personally-told-mr-putin-to-knock-it-off-and/)

[John Dickerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dickerson/)

> [President Obama has thrown allies like Israel under the bus, even as he has relaxed sanctions on Castro's Cuba. He abandoned our friends in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/president-obama-has-thrown-allies-like-israel-under-the-bus-even-as/)

[Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/)

> [Mr. Putin presents himself as a czar - and like any czar, he fears revolution above all else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sebag-montefiore/mr-putin-presents-himself-as-a-czar-and-like-any-czar-he-fears/)

[Simon Sebag Montefiore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sebag-montefiore/)

## More by Antony Blinken

> [The late 1990s were really a moment of still tremendous hope and optimism about the relationship between Russia and the United States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-blinken/the-late-1990s-were-really-a-moment-of-still-tremendous-hope-and/)

[Antony Blinken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-blinken/)

> [Pyongyang possesses thousands of artillery pieces 30 miles from Seoul. Just one retaliatory salvo could decimate South Korea's capital.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-blinken/pyongyang-possesses-thousands-of-artillery-pieces-30-miles-from-seoul/)

[Antony Blinken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-blinken/)

> [President Trump should win the Nobel Peace Prize.' It is hard to imagine anyone other than Mr. Trump expressing that sentiment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-blinken/president-trump-should-win-the-nobel-peace-prize-it-is-hard-to/)

[Antony Blinken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-blinken/)

> [Day by day, we are meant to continue the work of building a nation that better reflects the values, honors the diversity, and lives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-blinken/day-by-day-we-are-meant-to-continue-the-work-of-building-a-nation/)

[Antony Blinken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-blinken/)

> [It's hard to overstate the lasting harm Mr. Tillerson's tenure will do to America's diplomacy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-blinken/it-s-hard-to-overstate-the-lasting-harm-mr-tillerson-s-tenure-will-do/)

[Antony Blinken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-blinken/)

> [When we're in the business of picking fights with our allies instead of working with them, that takes away from our strength in dealing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-blinken/when-we-re-in-the-business-of-picking-fights-with-our-allies-instead/)

[Antony Blinken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-blinken/)

> [As Vietnam increasingly opens its doors, it will reap the rewards of progress for its people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-blinken/as-vietnam-increasingly-opens-its-doors-it-will-reap-the-rewards-of/)

[Antony Blinken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-blinken/)

> [The liberal order led by the United States favored an open world connected by the free flow of people, goods, ideas and capital, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-blinken/the-liberal-order-led-by-the-united-states-favored-an-open-world/)

[Antony Blinken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-blinken/)

> [Without Madeleine Albright, our community of democracies might be smaller.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-blinken/without-madeleine-albright-our-community-of-democracies-might-be/)

[Antony Blinken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-blinken/)

> [We deal, unfortunately, every single day with leaders of countries who are responsible for actions we find either objectionable or abhorrent, whether it's Vladimir…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-blinken/we-deal-unfortunately-every-single-day-with-leaders-of-countries-who/)

[Antony Blinken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-blinken/)

> [The National Security Act of 1947 - which established the National Security Council - laid the foundation for a deliberate, multitiered process, managed by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-blinken/the-national-security-act-of-1947-which-established-the-national/)

[Antony Blinken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-blinken/)

> [In the end, North Korea's conduct may change only when its leadership does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-blinken/in-the-end-north-korea-s-conduct-may-change-only-when-its-leadership/)

[Antony Blinken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-blinken/)

> [The contributions of refugees to the diverse mosaic of our nation are undeniable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-blinken/the-contributions-of-refugees-to-the-diverse-mosaic-of-our-nation-are/)

[Antony Blinken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-blinken/)

> [President Donald J. Trump was right to strike at the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for using a weapon of mass destruction, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-blinken/president-donald-j-trump-was-right-to-strike-at-the-regime-of-syrian/)

[Antony Blinken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-blinken/)

> [It's true that no policy fully survives first contact. But if you don't spend time anticipating the shots you are likely to take, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-blinken/it-s-true-that-no-policy-fully-survives-first-contact-but-if-you-don/)

[Antony Blinken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-blinken/)

[Explore all 100 Antony Blinken quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-blinken/)

## More America quotes

> [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/)

[Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/)

> [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/)

[Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/)

> [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/)

[Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/)

> [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/)

[Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/)

> [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/)

[Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/)

> [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/)

[Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/)

> [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/)

[George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/)

> [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/)

[Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/)

> [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/)

[Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/)

> [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/)

[Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/)

> [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/)

[Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/)

[Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Mr. Putin seems to be playing on every chessboard, from what Russia calls its 'near abroad' to the Middle East, from Europe to America.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Antony Blinken"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-blinken/mr-putin-seems-to-be-playing-on-every-chessboard-from-what-russia/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "America"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-blinken/mr-putin-seems-to-be-playing-on-every-chessboard-from-what-russia/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c4/antony-blinken-6122_america_mr-putin-seems-to-be-playing-on-every-ch_2093551.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c4/antony-blinken-6122_america_mr-putin-seems-to-be-playing-on-every-ch_2093551.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c4/antony-blinken-6122_america_mr-putin-seems-to-be-playing-on-every-ch_2093551.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Mr. Putin seems to be playing on every chessboard, from what Russia calls its 'near abroad' to the Middle…” — Antony Blinken",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Antony Blinken",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-blinken/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Mr. Putin seems to be playing...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-blinken/mr-putin-seems-to-be-playing-on-every-chessboard-from-what-russia/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-blinken/mr-putin-seems-to-be-playing-on-every-chessboard-from-what-russia/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
