Putin is not risking anything in negotiations. Russia’s position in world is personal for him - CNN
U.S. President Donald Trump says that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin wants peace. Ukraine and its European allies are skeptical of this statement, as the Kremlin has repeatedly assured of its readiness for peace, but has refused to sign the relevant agreements each time.
According to Censor.NET, CNN writes about this.
The publication notes that Putin's plans are much more ambitious. He openly states that Ukraine has no right to exist as an independent state. Putin also wants to return to the NATO borders that existed during the Cold War. However, his main goal is to create a new world order in which Russia will play a key role.
Russia does not want to be just one of the players on the world stage
After the chaos of the 1990s, when the Russian economy was in decline and dependent on Western financial aid, Putin came to power. Thanks to rising oil prices, Russia has become richer and its voice has become more powerful. It was even admitted to the G8 club of the world's largest economies. However, this was not enough.
"Putin was happy to throw all that away for the sake of his citizens for higher geopolitical goals," Christine Berzina, managing director of the German Marshall Fund of the United States, told CNN.
Russia has been expelled from the G8, sanctioned and isolated on the international stage for its aggression against Ukraine. Berzina added:
"It has never been enough for Russia to be eighth in the G7. This is not in line with Russia's perception of its exceptionalism. It is the largest country in the world, rich in resources, so how can it be just one of the players?"
Trump wants the war to end quickly, even if it means Ukraine losing part of its territory. At the same time, Putin is taking no chances in the negotiations. Trump claimed that "Russia holds all the cards" in the war with Ukraine, although the fighting has been stalemated for the past two years. Russia has made some territorial gains, but the price is huge losses.
"Putin invaded Ukraine thinking it would be an easy, quick operation. Three years later, he controls 20% of Ukraine, but at a terrible cost... The Russians are essentially losing. But Ukrainians are losing faster," said Russian analyst Mark Galeotti.
In his opinion, for Putin, the ceasefire is an opportunity to gain short-term benefits without giving up his strategic goals.
Strategic goals of the Russian dictator
Putin and his entourage openly state that despite talk of peace, their goals remain the same. This includes eliminating Ukraine' s sovereignty, changing its government, and limiting NATO's influence in Eastern Europe.
The reason for the invasion of Ukraine in 2022 was Putin's desire to establish a pro-Russian regime in Kyiv and prevent Ukraine's integration into the EU and NATO. Despite his failures on the battlefield, he has not given up on this goal.
"The easiest way for Russia to achieve what it wants in another country is not through military means, but through interference and the electoral process," Berzina said.
That's why the Kremlin doubts Zelenskyy's legitimacy and insists on elections, trying to use the process for its own purposes.
Putin also wants Ukraine to remain a "neutral" state and not join NATO. However, his promises of peace are not credible among Ukraine's European allies.
This is not a war with Ukraine, it is a war with the West
By agreeing to the talks, the Kremlin hopes to "get something out" of Trump, but does not expect a global change in relations with the West, says Russian journalist and security expert Andrey Soldatov. He adds that the Russian leadership sees this war not only as a conflict with Ukraine, but as a confrontation with the West in general.
"For the Kremlin, it's not a war with Ukraine, it's a war with the West, and many people in Moscow don't believe that a lasting agreement with the United States is possible," Soldatov told CNN.
The Kremlin continues to believe that the West seeks to destroy and conquer Russia. This is not just propaganda - it is a belief ingrained in the minds of Putin and his entourage.
In addition, Putin tries to justify his actions by using historical myths, such as that Ukraine is not a separate state but part of "historical Russia."
The religious aspect also plays an important role. The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, openly supports the war, and Putin is seeking to revive the idea of "Orthodox unity" under Moscow's leadership.
Russia wants to be at all important negotiating tables
Putin seeks to restore Russia's status as a great power and weaken the influence of the United States in the world. To do this, he is creating a coalition with the West's adversaries - China, Iran and other countries.
"Russia wants to be at all the important tables... It wants to play a major role in a bloc that is defined by its willingness to destabilize," said Monica White, associate professor at the University of Nottingham.
According to CNN, Putin is convinced that Russia should participate in determining the world order. And perhaps he has a like-minded person in Washington. Trump believes that the most powerful countries in the world have the right to act at their own discretion, even if it means redistributing territories.
"From Trump's point of view, Ukraine is a vassal state that must accept the agreement between the US and Russia," Galeotti concludes.
