Russian President Vladimir Putin is not looking for a way out of the war in Ukraine, but is preparing for an even bigger one, the Financial Times said.
The newspaper, in its analysis of the situation in the Kremlin, states that it is understandable that many in Ukraine and in the West want to believe that the Russian president is backed into a corner, as the Ukrainian army is recapturing territories occupied by the Russians and has proven capable of striking deep into enemy territory. , even to the Kremlin itself.
In Moscow, however, it is said that they believe they can afford a protracted war, primarily due to the fact that the Russian economy is growing despite the sanctions, and thanks to the non-stop military factories, the windfall from energy supplies last year and the adaptability of commodity exporters.
The analysis also states that the Russian president is counting on the fact that he can mobilize three to four times more soldiers than Ukraine, which, according to the newspaper, is most likely the purpose of the newly adopted law that raised the age limit for military service from 27 to 30.
The law also introduced the measure that the invitation to serve in the army can be obtained electronically, as well as that the Russian borders will be immediately closed to prevent a mass exodus of military-age men, like the one last fall.
The Financial Times writes that Moscow is stifling the Ukrainian economy, and that for this reason it withdrew from the grain export agreement and bombed Ukrainian ports such as Odessa, reports Tanjug.
The same logic applies to Russian airstrikes, where the goal is to render Ukrainian cities uninhabitable and prevent reconstruction.
The Kremlin hopes that the rapid rebuilding of the Russian army and the gradual decimation of the Ukrainian economy and armed forces will result in growing frustration with the West and a reduction in material support for Kiev, the newspaper said.
Moscow, in order to speed up that process and break the will of the West, uses threats of escalation, including the spread of the conflict towards the territory of NATO member countries through Belarus, with the help of soldiers of the "Wagner" unit stationed in that country.
In the conclusion of the analysis, it is stated that Putin has made many "fatal mistakes", but that as long as he is at the head of Russia, Moscow will use its great resources in the war in Ukraine.
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