Putin's inner circle reportedly sees no way out of war — Bloomberg
Photo: Vladimir Putin and his entourage (Getty Images)
Some senior officials in the Kremlin believe that the war against Ukraine has reached a stalemate, and Russia currently sees no clear way to end it, according to Bloomberg.
"Ukraine and its allies are increasingly confident that Russia’s invasion is running out of steam as Kyiv stabilizes the front line and stalls a spring offensive by Moscow," the agency writes.
As noted in the article, Ukraine’s growing effectiveness in using drones, which are inflicting significant losses on Russian troops, is accompanied by strikes behind the front lines and deep into Russian territory. This is intensifying domestic criticism of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.
Along with the economic downturn and internet restrictions, this is leading to deepening war fatigue among ordinary Russians.
Kremlin elite is at a loss
Many members of the Russian elite also share this sense of unease. According to sources familiar with the situation, some high-ranking Kremlin officials believe the war has reached a stalemate and has no clear path to resolution.
According to Bloomberg, Putin wants to end the war by the end of this year, but only on terms he considers victorious.
Specifically, this involves full control over the Donbas, which Russian troops have been unable to capture in more than a decade, as well as a broader security agreement with Europe that would effectively recognize Moscow’s territorial gains.
At the same time, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov denied that Putin had set any such deadlines.
Drones changed war course
The agency notes that the drones Ukraine is deploying in ever-increasing numbers have become a decisive factor in the war, helping to compensate for the manpower shortage that has plagued Kyiv since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
At the same time, Ukraine has not yet been able to achieve its strategic goals—to reclaim most of the occupied territories or move closer to an acceptable peace agreement within the framework of US-brokered negotiations, which have also reached an impasse.
Several European diplomats told Bloomberg that they view the mood in Russia as gloomy, as a stalemate persists on the front lines and strikes by Ukrainian drones are bringing the war directly to Moscow.
Nigel Gould-Davies, a senior research fellow on Russia and Eurasia at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London, believes that to sustain its military efforts, the Kremlin will almost certainly be forced to carry out a second partial mobilization within the next 12 months.
Yesterday, the head of the Ukrainian President’s Office, Kyrylo Budanov, stated that Russia cannot achieve its initial goals in the war with Ukraine. Therefore, it is lowering the bar and making new demands.
However, the FT recently reported that the Russian military command had promised Vladimir Putin to capture the Donbas by the fall. They are reporting to him that the Ukrainian army is exhausted, the front is crumbling, and forces are dwindling.
The Office of the President of Ukraine also does not rule out that Putin may declare a general mobilization in the country after the State Duma elections.
