ISW Analysts Analyzed Putin's Statements on Russia's Goals in the War Against Ukraine
Kyiv • UNN
ISW analysts have analyzed the statements of Russian President Vladimir Putin about Russia's goals in the war during his press conference.
The Institute for the Study of War analyzed the statements of Russian President Vladimir Putin about Russia's goals of denazification, demilitarization and neutral status of Ukraine during his press conference on December 14, UNN reports.
Details
As noted, Putin used the press conference to discuss his goals in Ukraine, the specific operational and tactical situation at the front, and the specific problems of Russian soldiers and volunteers in a much more public and lengthy manner than in his previous statements about the war.
Putin's willingness to devote a significant portion of the event to the war in Ukraine shows growing confidence in his ability to address the Russian public on the issue, which may reflect his personal confidence in Russia's prospects in Ukraine after relatively successful defensive operations in the western part of Zaporizhzhia region and perceived wavering Western support for Ukraine
Many of Putin's statements on December 14 are similar to boilerplate statements about Russia's war in Ukraine.
Putin reiterated his maximalist goals for Russia's war in Ukraine - denazification, demilitarization and neutral status for Ukraine.
However, as ISW notes, Putin did not describe what changes in the Ukrainian armed forces would constitute "demilitarization," although Russia's goal is almost certainly to deprive Ukraine of the means of self-defense.
According to analysts, Russia's calls for Ukrainian "neutrality" are part of a list of broader Russian goals beyond Ukraine, which include a permanent moratorium on NATO expansion, a ban on the deployment of Western strike weapons near Russia, and the actual withdrawal of NATO forces to their 1997 positions.
Putin reiterated his unwillingness to enter into negotiations with Ukraine and stated that peace will only come when Russia achieves its maximalist goals.
ISW continues to believe that Putin's maximalist goals are tantamount to the complete surrender of Ukraine and the West.
These maximalist goals also do not exclude the annexation of occupied Ukrainian territories or additional territorial gains by Russia. The Kremlin appears to be returning to the expansionist rhetoric last heard before the full-scale invasion of a "divided Ukraine" that rejects key components of Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity and includes a stated intention to occupy and annex additional Ukrainian territories
To recap
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has said that peace in Ukraine will come when the Russians achieve their goals in the so-called "special military operation" and emphasized that Russia's goals have not changed.
Addendum
Russian President Vladimir Putin continued to promote the narrative of "brotherly nations" and that Ukraine is now in a "civil war" at a press conference on December 14.
