Kremlin does not plan to end war: ISW reveals reason
Photo: Russian society supports prolonged war with Ukraine (Getty Images)
The Russian military and society do not support a ceasefire or an end to the war shortly. The Kremlin uses these sentiments to justify a prolonged war, according to the report from the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
The report referred to interviews with 11 Russian soldiers conducted by The New York Times, all of whom have taken or are taking part in combat operations in Ukraine. Some of the interviewed servicemen expressed categorical opposition to a comprehensive ceasefire and believe that Russia should continue fighting until its army captures the entire territory of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions.
They also urge Russia to prolong the war until the territorial objectives are achieved and not to offer any concessions to Ukraine or the West. According to them, this is necessary so that Russia does not have to fight Ukraine again in 5 or 10 years and to ensure that Russian casualties in the current war are not in vain.
According to an April survey conducted by the independent Russian opposition sociological organization Chronicles, about half of the respondents opposed a peace agreement that would not meet Vladimir Putin’s initial aims of "denazification," demilitarization, and neutrality of Ukraine.
The report also cited results from an April 2025 survey of 100 Russian military personnel conducted by the opposition publication Verstka. According to the results, only 18% of respondents supported the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine before achieving the war goals declared by Putin, and only about one-fifth believe the war will end in the coming months.
The ISW noted that these survey results indicate the Kremlin has not prepared the Russian information space for a peace agreement soon, and that the Russian military and society do not expect the war to end shortly.
Analysts believe the Kremlin is making deliberate efforts to justify Putin’s war aims as vital for the Russian state and is securing public support to prolong the war until Russia achieves those goals.
"Kremlin officials are increasingly publicly stating that Russia is prepared to continue fighting until Ukraine accepts Russia's demands, likely because the Kremlin assesses that it has adequately prepared Russian society and the Russian military for such a scenario," the Institute for the Study of War concluded.
Russia’s plans in war against Ukraine
According to ISW experts, the Kremlin is deliberately delaying peace negotiations, indicating readiness for a prolonged war without compromises.
Experts believe Putin seeks Ukraine’s capitulation in the Istanbul talks.
This is also evidenced by Putin’s appointment of a new commander of the Russian Ground Forces, known for leading assaults with high casualties.
