Vladimir Putin is working out how to “survive politically” amid concerns of a stalemate in Ukraine, a former CIA officer has claimed.
Steven Hall, an ex-senior official at the intelligence agency, argued the Russian President is lowering expectations about his onslaught against the ex-Soviet state.
“For me, the really fascinating question is why does Vladimir Putin address this, and for me, we have to turn to history in Russia,” he told CNN.
“There have been so many Russian leaders who, after a failed or stalemated war, did not survive in power afterward.”
Ukrainian service members check a destroyed Russian a BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicle
Reuters
He added: "I wonder whether or not Putin's thinking about that, whether he's beginning to see: 'OK, I'm not going to win it, the best I can hope for is some kind of draw, some sort of frozen conflict.'
"'But if that happens, how will I survive politically?'
“And I wonder whether he's trying to prepare the Russian population for that eventuality and trying to figure out a soft landing for himself."
Putin recently addressed state-backed journalists about the situation in Ukraine.
A view shows residential houses heavily damaged by a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kramatorsk, Donetsk region
Reuters
The 70-year-old warned Russia was fighting with inferior weapons.
Moscow is now working to increase the production of modern weaponry.
Putin specifically highlighted his men were short on high-precision ammunition and attack drones.
Kremlin officials initially believed Russian troops would defeat Ukrainian forces quickly.
One of Vladimir Putin’s top propagandists has suggested that Russia should 'freeze' the war over fears Ukraine is 'too strong'ReutersHowever, the conflict has become increasingly attritional since Russian boots first entered the ex-Soviet state in February last year.
Russian and Ukrainian troops are currently embroiled in skirmishes on the southern front as Kyiv continues to mount its counter-offensive.
Russia is reportedly putting up a powerful resistance to Volodymyr Zelensky’s men.
Ganna Malyar, the Ukrainian Deputy Defence Minister, said in a briefing: “There is a gradual but steady advance of the armed forces... At the same time, the enemy is putting up powerful resistance [on the southern front].”
Oleksiy Gromov of the Ukrainian armed forces’ general staff also claimed the ex-Soviet state has recaptured seven settlements and more than 100 square kilometres.