Russian President Vladimir Putin may be open to a cease-fire in his war with Ukraine, so long as the country could still declare victory, a new report by the New York Times found.
Putin, still confident in his forces, said that Russia’s goals have not changed. In his annual year-end press conference last week, Putin warned that there would be no peace solution in Ukraine until Russia achieves its overarching goals, the “denazification” and demilitarization of Ukraine.
Putin’s message might be different now, as he has reportedly signaled he is ready to make a deal. Since September, Putin has signaled that he is open to a pause in fighting along the current lines, which is much shorter than his intention to dominate Ukraine, according to the Times who cited two former senior Russian officials.
According to the United Nations, more than 10,000 civilians have been killed and 18,500 have been injured since the start of the war nearly two years ago.
Not to mention, Putin had every chance to have a stalemate dozens of times. When he invaded Crimea. When he sent mercenaries into the Donbas. When he shelled the Donbas. When he shot down MH17. Putin had dozens of opportunies to walk away from the war and get away with annexing huge regions of Europe.
He chose murder, rape, torture, war, and there needs to be consequences for the Russian state.