Russian command promises Putin full Donbas capture by fall — FT
Photo: Vladimir Putin (Getty Images)
The Russian military command has promised Russian dictator Vladimir Putin that they will capture Donbas by fall. They are reporting to him that the Ukrainian army is exhausted, the front lines are crumbling, and their forces are dwindling, according to the Financial Times.
These plans were revealed by two sources in contact with Putin, two other sources familiar with the situation, and are also confirmed by an assessment from Ukrainian intelligence. Following a potential advance in Donbas, Putin plans to raise the stakes in negotiations and intensify his territorial demands on Ukraine.
As the FT notes, Putin has recently been increasingly focused on Donbas, although he previously suggested in private conversations that the war could be frozen along the current front lines.
One of the agency’s sources says he repeatedly urged Putin to agree to a ceasefire without new demands, but Putin refused to compromise.
At the same time, sources note that a Russian forces breakthrough on the front remains unlikely.
The Russian army’s advance has slowed significantly, while Ukraine continues to strike at Russia's rear facilities.
Dmytro Putiata, a serviceman with the Ukrainian Unmanned Systems Forces, states that strikes on Russian warehouses, logistics, and troop locations are creating serious problems for troop rotation and ammunition supply.
At the same time, FT sources claim that Putin’s strategic ambitions may extend far beyond the Donbas.
According to them, the Kremlin’s ultimate goal is to establish control over Ukraine along the Dnipro River, including the capture of Kyiv and Odesa.
One of the sources says that Putin is told that the Ukrainians are fighting, their front is crumbling, and they’ve run out of people.
Putin himself recently hinted at a possible expansion of Russia’s territorial claims, stating the need to create a so-called security zone deep within Ukrainian territory.
Situation in Russia
Earlier, Western media reported that Putin was allegedly convinced of victory on the front lines and was prepared to fight for up to two more years to gain full control over the Donetsk region.
Meanwhile, within Russia itself, claims of victories by the Russian army are increasingly met with laughter, even among die-hard patriots and propagandists.
One of the Russian opposition figures, Garry Kasparov, told RBC-Ukraine that there is growing talk in Russia about replacing Putin due to the failure of the war against Ukraine.
According to him, there is a growing realization in Russia that Putin is incapable of winning this war.
"There is a feeling that something is happening. It is a Russian tradition that a bad war always leads to change. And now we are seeing a situation where many people, both in the elite and among ordinary citizens, are beginning to understand that Putin cannot win the war. And when a dictator starts a war he cannot win, according to the laws of history, he begins to face major problems," he said.
