Imitates to destroy: in ISW ​​explained why Putin is uninterested in negotiations with Ukraine

According to analysts, Putin views the victory in Ukraine as a prerequisite for the war with NATO, and any ceasefire or settlement by negotiations that do not imply a complete surrender of Ukraine-as a temporary pause in their efforts to destroy the independent Ukrainian state. The Russian leadership regularly imitates interest in meaningful negotiations, which aims to persuade the West to make concessions about the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine.

However, in fact, Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to achieve complete destruction of Ukrainian statehood. This is stated in the report of the American Institute for War Study (ISW). "Putin and the Kremlin have significantly strengthened their expansionist rhetoric on Ukraine since December 2023 and are increasingly indicating that Russia intends to gain more territory in Ukraine and seeks to completely destroy Ukrainian statehood and identity," the report reads.

Military actions and offensive operations in Kharkiv region, according to analysts, indicate that the Kremlin is more interested in achieving its long-term purpose-maximalist victory in Ukraine than in any settlement that would immediately freeze the front line at that level, at the level which she is now. ISW reminded that Putin is considering the preservation of Russia's control over the occupied Ukrainian territory as a basis for negotiations that are not discussed.

"The constant emphasis on the recognition of occupied Ukrainian territory in Russian does not indicate that Russia refuses these broader strategic goals.

The ceasefire, which provides for the release of now occupied territories, would specify the idea that Ukraine's territorial integrity is the subject of negotiation B is a precedent, to which the Kremlin will undoubtedly return to achieve further territorial concessions and in general to question the idea of ​​Ukrainian statehood, "the material reads.

Experts are convinced that the victory of Russia in Ukraine would not only eliminate the threat of Ukraine as a potential opponent during a possible ordinary war with NATO, but also provide Russia with access to millions of people whom it can force it to military service, as well as most of the resources and resources and Industrial potential of Ukraine.

Therefore, according to analysts, Putin probably considers the victory in Ukraine as a prerequisite for the war with NATO, and any ceasefire or settlement by negotiations that do not imply a complete surrender of Ukraine-as a temporary pause in their efforts to destroy independent Ukrainian State.

The Kremlin may again imitate the interest in negotiations to influence the debate on the West on the removal of restrictions on the use of weapons provided by Ukraine to defeat military goals in Russia and to convince Western politicians that changes in these restrictions can lead to Russia's unwillingness to negotiate in the future.

The Kremlin can also re-imitate the interest in negotiations to influence any future Western discussions about providing additional assistance that will be needed by the Ukrainian forces to start their own counter-offensive operations in the medium term. We will remind, on June 15, China called on the "sides of the conflict" in the Russian-Ukrainian war to make concessions and start peaceful negotiations with each other.