Statements by Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin regarding a possible end to the war in Ukraine may be another deception aimed at distracting attention from Russia's own weaknesses, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said during a surprise visit to Kyiv on Monday, UNN reports, citing Reuters.
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Putin could end the war himself if he wanted to, Pistorius said. "And there is always the fear—I hope I am wrong—that this is just another deception, but it cannot be ruled out."
"I think that, ultimately, Putin is trying to distract from his own weakness with this approach. He can barely point to any territorial gains now, and his army continues to lose parts of the territory it had conquered," Pistorius added.
Addendum
The publication notes that Putin stated on Saturday that he believes the war in Ukraine is nearing its end and that he is ready to negotiate new security agreements in Europe with former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder as a potential negotiating partner.
As ISW noted in its analysis, "Putin vaguely hinted that the war in Ukraine could soon end, despite the lack of any signs that Russia intends to stop the war." As ISW pointed out, Russian state media presented Putin's statement on Saturday as if he had declared that the war in Ukraine is "nearing its end," even though Putin provided no indication that he intends to end Russia's war in Ukraine. The ISW report further notes that "Putin specifically stated during a press conference that he intends to allow Russian forces to 'focus on the final defeat of Ukraine' by excluding Russian military equipment from the Victory Day parade, signaling that Russia remains committed to its maximalist goals regarding the surrender of the Ukrainian government." ISW also noted that "the Kremlin is likely playing to its domestic audience, which is increasingly feeling the effects of more than four years of war and Russia's inability to repel Ukraine's long-range strikes."