Putin Escalates Rhetoric and Military Pressure, Signaling Intent to Dictate Terms in Ukraine Conflict
By Lucas Fernandez, World-Today-News.com – september 12, 2024
(World-Today-News.com) – A recent surge in Russian military activity, including the largest aerial assault on Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion and incursions of drones into Polish airspace (a NATO member state), is being interpreted as a deliberate escalation by the Kremlin, accompanied by a pointed messaging campaign directed at Ukraine, Western allies, and former U.S. President Donald Trump.
According to a report in The New York Times, these actions represent a new level of Russian aggression and are part of a broader strategy to project strength and dictate the terms of any potential resolution to the conflict. The shift in tactics follows a period where President Putin largely refrained from public commentary on Ukraine, a silence broken during his recent visits to China and the Russian Far East.
The renewed focus on Ukraine, coupled with intensified military strikes, appears to be an attempt by Moscow to demonstrate its willingness to escalate the conflict and force concessions. Sources close to the Kremlin suggest Putin believes Ukraine’s defenses are weakening and that Kyiv will be compelled to accept unfavorable peace terms to avoid further deterioration. As one source reportedly told the Times, “Kyiv has to accept peace conditions now because they will be even