Kremlin searching for 'image of victory' to 'sell' peace with Ukraine to Russians - Media
Photo: Russian President Vladimir Putin (Getty Images)
The Kremlin is laying the groundwork for ending the war by trying to convince Russians of a "victory" amid the economic crisis and growing public fatigue, according to the findings of an investigation by the Dossier Center.
Kremlin plan and propaganda manipulation
According to the Dossier Center, the administration of Russian President Vladimir Putin began working as early as February 2026 on a so-called image of victory to justify a future peace deal with Ukraine.
Political strategists reportedly plan to force radical Z-bloggers to change their rhetoric and convince their audiences that continuing the fighting would become a Pyrrhic victory.
The core propaganda narrative will reportedly be based on claims that Putin allegedly managed to "bend the West to his will" and thwart the plans of Russia’s enemies.
Kremlin handlers are also said to be proposing declaring the symbolic "denazification" campaign complete while emphasizing territorial gains and the creation of a land corridor to Crimea.
"Continuing the conflict carries the risk of general mobilization, higher taxes, and strikes deep inside the country," the strategy documents reportedly state.
Media figures who refuse to follow the new party line are allegedly being threatened with marginalization and prosecution for discrediting the army.
Possible peace deal scenario and risks
The investigation says the documents outline a possible scenario in which the conflict would be frozen along the current front line, leaving Russia in control of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
Meanwhile, in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, the dividing line would reportedly follow the actual positions of the troops. At the same time, Russian forces would have to fully withdraw from the Sumy and Kharkiv regions.
Putin’s administration is reportedly concerned that continued aggression could trigger social unrest due to resource exhaustion and the demographic crisis.
Authorities are also preparing a program of a "controlled thaw" in culture and the return of political humor to television screens.
"It is necessary to create the illusion of a return to normal life after achieving the objectives," the authors of the plan reportedly wrote.
Are the negotiations over?
Recently, the Office of the President of Ukraine responded to another Russian ultimatum, which once again demonstrated the Kremlin’s lack of genuine willingness to end the war.
Earlier, an aide to Russian leader Yuri Ushakov put forward a new condition for launching dialogue. He said trilateral meetings were "inadvisable" until Ukraine withdraws its troops from the entire territory of the Donetsk region currently controlled by the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
In addition, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has already outlined the key priorities for Ukrainian representatives during talks in the United States. In particular, National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov was tasked with discussing concrete steps regarding further defense support and Ukraine’s vision for a just end to the conflict.
