"Vladimir Putin is trapped. Despite staggering losses and mounting international pressure, the Russian President shows no sign of ending the war in Ukraine - and experts say he likely can't. The Kremlin's grip on power depends on projecting strength. Analysts warn that any attempt to pull back would be seen as weakness, sparking unrest among elites and ordinary Russians alike. "For Putin, capitulation isn't an option," said a senior European security source. "Backing down would be political suicide.""
"The conflict also gives Russia leverage over Europe. Moscow has threatened energy, transport, and security channels to pressure NATO and the West into concessions. Ending the war now would destroy this bargaining power. Propaganda plays a critical role. The war has been framed as a personal, patriotic mission, and retreat would humiliate the Russian state narrative. Domestically, this could trigger political instability that the Kremlin cannot afford."
Vladimir Putin is trapped by the need to project strength and cannot credibly end the war in Ukraine without appearing weak. Any withdrawal would risk unrest among elites and ordinary Russians and could be treated as political suicide. Occupied eastern Ukrainian regions are being integrated into Russian military and administrative structures, making retreat costly and geopolitically damaging. Despite massive casualties and economic sanctions, Russia is rebuilding forces, rearming factories, and stockpiling weapons. The conflict provides Moscow leverage over Europe through threats to energy, transport, and security channels. Propaganda frames the war as a personal patriotic mission, and retreat would humiliate the state narrative, risking domestic instability.
Read at London Business News | Londonlovesbusiness.com
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