Zero Hedge: Putin Has 'Lost Interest' In Diplomacy
Vladimir Putin is no longer open to diplomacy to end the war in Ukraine, which suggests he's focusing on a 'land-grab' strategy instead, according to the Financial Times, citing three people briefed on conversations with the Russian President.
The Russian president was said to have been seriously considering a peace deal in the wake of several battlefield setbacks last month.
Early peace talks faltered following a meeting in Istanbul in late March, after Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky accused the Kremlin of committing war crimes against civilians in Mariupol and Bucha. According to Putin, peace efforts were at a "dead end," and was particularly upset over the sinking of the Russian Black Sea flagship, Moskva, according to two of FT's sources.
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WNU Editor: I have a different take from the above analysis.
At the beginning of April when Russian forces left the regions north of Kyiv Russian public opinion turned sharply "hardcore" on the war, and those who Putin rely on to maintain his grip on power started to mirror the same sentiments. Former Russian President Medvedev's remarks at this time that Russia did not need the West, and that the Russian military should continue their offensive in the east and southern parts of the country until they achieved their military and political objectives, surprised me. As I remarked at the time, Medvedev's remarks are noteworthy because he sits on the Kremlin's all-powerful security council, and he was always seen as the most accommodating Russian leader when it came to the West. No more now.
Even among my friends, family, and contacts in Russia I have noticed this drastic shift in the past few weeks. In the first month of the war there were a lot of doubts and opposition to the war. There was definitely an overwhelming desire to end it. Now there is an acceptance that this is going to be a long war, that the Ukraine military and political establishment must be neutralized, that Russian forces are going to be staying in eastern and southern Ukraine for a long time, and that there is a very real possibility of war against NATO.
I know Putin is an autocrat, But when his base of support and almost 90% of Russian public opinion are overwhelmingly in favor of continuing the war until it ends in favor of Russia, Putin does listen and he responds accordingly.
One can also argue that Ukraine is also not interested in diplomacy to end the war. After-all, those who have advocated such an approach have found themselves either arrested or killed for treason .... Ukrainian peace negotiator is shot dead 'in attempted arrest by Ukrainian security service' amid claims he was a Russian spy (Daily Mail).
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