Quora : A very worried man.
U.S. intelligence assessments say the Kremlin is trapped — not on the battlefield, but politically.
Moscow
Quora
U.S. intelligence assessments say the Kremlin is trapped — not on the battlefield, but politically.
Moscow can’t explain the staggering casualties, the trillions of rubles burned, or the broken economy. So Putin’s strategy has shifted to one goal: drag the war out indefinitely.
According to economist Anders Åslund, Russia isn’t even trying to win anymore. A long war suits the regime — peace does not.
Why?
Because peace brings consequences.
More than two million veterans, including convicts and mobilized prisoners who were promised freedom, will eventually return home. And they’ll all ask the same question:
➡️ “What was this for?”
The Kremlin has no answer, no victory to show, and no narrative strong enough to survive that moment.
Historian Mark Galeotti adds that Putin is stuck between fear and uncertainty, and Trump’s proposed peace plans only tighten the noose. Any negotiation highlights how badly Russia’s original war goals failed.
The truth is simple, and devastating:
Putin violated the oldest rule in geopolitics — don’t start a war you cannot win.
“Denazification”? Impossible.
“Demilitarization”? Ukraine now has one of Europe’s strongest armies.
Blocking NATO? Kyiv is closer to NATO than ever.
Even if Russia occupies a few regions, it won’t be enough to sell a “victory.” And Putin knows i Please follow, comme, and sharean’t explain the staggering casualties, the trillions of rubles burned, or the broken economy. So Putin’s strategy has shifted to one goal: drag the war out indefinitely.
According to economist Anders Åslund, Russia isn’t even trying to win anymore. A long war suits the regime — peace does not.
Why?
Because peace brings consequences.
More than two million veterans, including convicts and mobilized prisoners who were promised freedom, will eventually return home. And they’ll all ask the same question: “What was this for?”
The Kremlin has no answer, no victory to show, and no narrative strong enough to survive that moment.
Historian Mark Galeotti adds that Putin is stuck between fear and uncertainty, and Trump’s proposed peace plans only tighten the noose. Any negotiation highlights how badly Russia’s original war goals failed.
The truth is simple, and devastating:
Putin violated the oldest rule in geopolitics — don’t start a war you cannot win.
“Denazification”? Impossible.
“Demilitarization”? Ukraine now has one of Europe’s strongest armies.
Blocking NATO? Kyiv is closer to NATO than ever.
Even if Russia occupies a few regions, it won’t be enough to sell a “victory.” And Putin knows it.
Please follow, commen, and sh
