President Putin appears determined to move forward despite recent military setbacks in Ukraine
That's the question we've been asking for months, even long before Russia invaded Ukraine.What is Vladimir Putin's thinking and planning?Let me clarify in advance that I do not have a Kremlin crystal ball. Nor do I have Putin on the phone live.
Former US President George W. Bush once said that when he looked into Vladimir Putin's eyes, he understood his nature.
Although getting into the mind of a Kremlin leader is a very difficult task, it is worth trying. Perhaps more so now than ever in light of Moscow's recent nuclear weapons frenzy.There is no doubt that the Russian president is under pressure. His so-called 'special military operation' in Ukraine has failed miserably for him.
It was supposed to last for a few days but it has been almost eight months and there is no end in sight.
The Kremlin acknowledged "significant" military losses. In recent weeks, the Russian military has been losing ground in Ukraine that it previously held.
To increase troop numbers, last month President Putin announced a partial mobilization, which he had previously insisted he would not do. Meanwhile, sanctions are wreaking havoc on the Russian economyIn recent months, senior Russian officials (including Putin himself) have been giving vague hints that Kremlin leaders would be willing to use nuclear weapons in the conflict.
US President Joe Biden told CNN, "I don't think they will, but I think it's irresponsible for them to talk about it."
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