Russia ramps up efforts to manipulate Western policy-making in its favor - ISW
Photo: Kremlin building on Red Square (Getty Images)
The Kremlin intensifies its campaign of reflexive control to influence Western policy-making in favor of Russia. This effort comes amid uncertainty over US policy toward Ukraine, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
Analysts reached this conclusion based on recent developments. On November 15, Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. During the call, Putin reiterated several Kremlin-driven narratives aimed at influencing the German government and other Western nations to pressure Ukraine into peace talks rather than providing further military aid.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the conversation between Scholz and Putin a "Pandora's box," warning that it helps the Kremlin leader achieve his primary goals. These objectives include reducing international isolation and initiating negotiations on terms favorable to Russia, which will lead nowhere.
The ISW noted that Putin and other senior Russian officials have recently escalated rhetoric targeting the foreign policy of the incoming US administration under President-elect Donald Trump.
The Kremlin has also reaffirmed its unwillingness to compromise on the conditions of any potential future negotiations, emphasizing that its long-standing objective — Ukraine's complete capitulation — remains unchanged.
Analysts believe the Kremlin seeks to exploit uncertainty about US policy toward Ukraine by ramping up its reflexive control campaign against Ukraine’s European allies.
Notably, Russian officials, including Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu and Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, have used phone calls with Western political and defense officials to disseminate Kremlin narratives. These efforts also involved threatening the West to make premature concessions regarding Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
As a reminder, yesterday, Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to the phone call between Olaf Scholz and Vladimir Putin. Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi stated that such efforts would not lead to a just peace, as the Kremlin leader views Western appeals as a sign of weakness.
“Concrete, strong action is required to force him into peace, not persuasion and attempts of appeasement, which he perceives as weakness and uses to his advantage. Concrete actions are well known, most notably the withdrawal of occupational troops from Ukraine's territory,” Tykhyi said.
