Putin continues to believe that West can abandon Ukraine in favor of Russia's victory - ISW
Russian President Vladimir Putin (photo: kremlin.ru)
Russian President Vladimir Putin signaled that perceived Ukraine fatigue in the West emboldens Russia to prolong the war. Additionally, he remains committed to his victory strategy, reports the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
On October 25, following the BRICS summit in Kazan, Putin responded to a journalist’s question on whether the exhaustion of Ukrainian forces, Western military fatigue, or Russian military strength is contributing to the success of Russia’s offensive operations across the battlefield.
The Russian leader stated that Russia must continue doubling its military efforts in Ukraine, disregarding any discussions about the adversary’s fatigue.
Putin added that the West is beginning to realistically assess the situation around Ukraine and is changing its rhetoric on the need for Russia's strategic defeat. He remarked that Russia can only commend the West for this rhetorical shift away from the goal of Russia’s complete defeat in Ukraine.
In a later interview, Putin stated that any outcome of the Russia-Ukraine war must favor Russia and be based on realities on the battlefield. He reiterated Russia’s commitment to its initial objectives: forcing the Ukrainian government to capitulate and dismantling Ukraine’s statehood and military.
"ISW continues to assess that Putin’s theory of victory rests on a critical assumption that the West will abandon Ukraine to Russian victory, either of its own accord or in response to Russian efforts to persuade the West to do so, and that it is far from clear that the West will do so," analysts concluded.
