Russian President Vladimir Putin will end the war in Ukraine if Russia is allowed to keep the four regions it has taken control of, according to several key Kremlin sources.
The oppressive dictator believes that any further substantial gains by Russia will require another major – and highly unpopular – mandatory conscription and that the Russian people can be convinced by the idea that the homeland has already recaptured enough territory, Reuters said.
“Putin can fight as long as it takes, but Putin is also ready for a ceasefire – to freeze the war,” said a source who worked with the Russian leader and was privy to the discussions high level in the Kremlin.
One of the outlet’s sources added: “Putin will say that we won, that NATO attacked us and that we kept our sovereignty, that we have a land corridor to Crimea, which is true.”
Russia conquered large swaths of Ukraine’s Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions during the conflict which began in February 2022.
These lands would remain with Russia under the ceasefire plan announced by Putin.
Putin reportedly invaded Ukraine because his goal was to reunify at least part of the former Soviet Union, which was dissolved in 1991 and allowed Ukraine and some other Russian republics from the former USSR to become independent nations.
But his current idea – being able to retain areas of Ukraine that Russia now controls as part of a ceasefire deal – would likely draw serious opposition from Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky.
Zelensky pledged not to cede any territory to Russia and even to retake Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014.
After mounting a remarkable initial defense against its invaders, Ukrainian forces have struggled to hold on to some territory in recent months, with Zelensky blaming an apparent lack of support from allies such as the United States.
Last month, the US Congress finally approved a $61 billion aid package for Ukraine, but the weapons and ammunition have not yet been delivered.
News Source : nypost.com
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