First, there are martial declarations and self-satisfaction. According to Vladimir Putin, the Ukrainian counter-offensive launched at the beginning of June is a failure. Without succeeding in breaking through the Russian defense lines, kyiv would have lost “about 25%, or maybe 30% of the equipment” supplied by the West, i.e. 160 tanks and more than 360 armored vehicles, when the Russian losses would be “ten times less”.
The Russian president drew up this detailed assessment during a meeting on Tuesday, June 13, with the Russian military correspondents who cover the “special operation” in Ukraine. Journalists who constitute the last authorized critical voice in Russia, most often to deplore the lack of determination of the State in the conduct of the war.
This assurance displayed by Mr. Putin is significant, the president usually commenting little or not at all on the course of military operations. For the second time in a few days, the Russian president thus displays his full confidence in the ability of his army to hold out.
An unusual mea culpa
But what emerges from this long meeting, partly broadcast on television, are also and above all the hesitations of the head of the Kremlin, even a certain nervousness in his expression, sometimes exaggeratedly joyful, sometimes worried. Mr Putin made an unusual mea culpa regarding the Ukrainian bombings and incursions into the Belgorod region, acknowledging that “We could have been better prepared”. “The border will be reinforcedhe promised, and if these attacks continue, it will be necessary to look into the creation of a “sanitary buffer” on Ukrainian territory. »
This promise contains in itself an admission of weakness: in the logic of Vladimir Putin, but also according to the Russian Constitution, the territories annexed in 2022, also theaters of combat, are supposed to be just as Russian as the Belgorod region. Singularizing the latter amounts to recognizing the fragility of these annexations.
The Russian president also appeared insecure when discussing Russia’s war aims, while still isolated voices in Russia believe that those exposed in February 2022 – “demilitarization” And “denazification” of Ukraine, retreat of NATO – have become unattainable. “Our goals change depending on the situation, but in general, of course, we will not change anything, and these goals are fundamental for us”, Putin stated in a confused way. Even the minimum objective of the “defence of the inhabitants of Donbass” is not yet achieved, he acknowledged.
You have 27.14% of this article left to read. The following is for subscribers only.