According to the Washington Post, citing sources within Russian elites and diplomatic circles, the military guarantees promised by the West to Ukraine after the war are viewed by Russia as an “additional stimulus” to prolong the conflict.
According to a diplomat, the mood in Moscow has become even more somber following the emergence of Western proposals for long-term arms supplies to Ukraine as an alternative to NATO membership.
The diplomat stated that this is the primary concern of the Russian leadership. He emphasized that if Ukraine receives modern weaponry and upgrades its army, even without formal NATO membership, it could pose an existential threat to Russia.
The diplomat’s remarks suggest that Western offers of military support to Ukraine serve as an additional incentive for Russia to continue its military operations.
The article also notes that the protracted war makes voluntary withdrawal of Russian troops less likely, citing the opinion of an unnamed Russian billionaire. According to the billionaire, the longer the war persists, the more personal it becomes for Russians, and the more difficult it becomes to consider withdrawing Russian troops, despite a growing understanding among the Russian elite that the invasion was a massive mistake.
The billionaire stated that when you lose a relative, the desire for revenge for their death arises, and nobody cares about who started it. He believes that while everyone understands that the war has not achieved its goals, it will not affect the course of the conflict. It becomes exceedingly challenging to stop. He also added that everything depends on the outcome of the Ukrainian armed forces’ counteroffensive.
As earlier reported Ukraine has lost two Leopard 2 tanks and 13 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs) in a single day.
