ISW explains what will make Putin stop the war against Ukraine

Ukraine's Western partners can weaken Russia's desire to wage a protracted war of destruction and destroy Vladimir Putin's assumption that he can succeed by force.

This is reported by RBC-Ukraine with reference to a report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

It is noted that the current theory of the dictator's victory is based on Russia's ability to survive and overcome the promised Western security assistance to Ukraine, as well as the country's efforts to mobilize most of its economy and population to participate in hostilities.

The report notes that Putin and the Russian military command increasingly see it as a strategic imperative to maintain the initiative throughout the entire theater of operations. The Institute's analysts are convinced that the Kremlin will block Ukraine's allocation of personnel and materiel for ongoing defense operations and will do everything to prevent the Ukrainian Armed Forces from accumulating personnel and resources, which will ultimately lead to a loss in the war.

The ISW notes that Putin's theory of victory is based on the assertion that Ukraine is not capable of liberating territories quickly. If the Defense Forces can quickly reverse these gains and regain the initiative on the battlefield or in the entire theater, Russia's slow advance will no longer be operationally important.

Author - Dmitriy Levchenko, 01/07/2024