putin’s Strategy: Dividing the West and Pursuing Gains in Ukraine Despite Internal Pressures

Despite over three years of conflict,the Russian military remains stalled in Ukraine,reportedly suffering significant losses – approximately 1500 soldiers daily – while the Russian economy faces increasing strain,particularly due to Ukrainian attacks on oil refineries. Though, according to Tatiana Kastouéva-Jean of the French Institute of International Relations, these factors do not appear to deter Vladimir Putin’s objectives.

Putin’s core strategy centers on three interconnected goals: fracturing European unity, eroding Ukrainian morale, and, crucially, driving a wedge between the United States and Ukraine. This includes attempts to dissuade potential security guarantees from the US to Ukraine, such as information sharing or anti-missile defense systems.

To achieve this, Putin is reportedly employing tactics rooted in KGB methodology. These involve appealing to Donald Trump‘s ego – a characteristic identified by Russian intelligence as early as the 1980s – and offering potentially lucrative business opportunities. Historian Françoise Thom draws parallels to a Leninist strategy from 1918, where economic concessions were offered to the United States in Eastern Siberia with the aim of separating Washington from the Entente powers (France and the United Kingdom).

Currently, negotiations are underway between Steve Witkoff, a representative of Donald trump, and Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Sovereign Fund. These discussions reportedly involve Russia proposing a share in the Russian gas trade in exchange for the US abandoning support for Ukraine.

Despite these efforts,assessments of Putin’s intentions remain stark. Finnish President Alexander Stubb, who has developed a close relationship with Trump, has expressed a lack of trust in Putin, stating, “I have told President Trump several times that he should not trust him. Putin is a pathological liar.” Stubb emphasizes that Putin’s essential goals remain unchanged: denying Ukraine’s right to independence and sovereignty, and ultimately seeking to annex Ukrainian territory to restore Russia’s perceived former greatness. Stubb concludes that Putin remains deeply affected by the collapse of the Soviet Union and operates with that past viewpoint.

Putin has publicly stated his demands for ending the conflict: the cession of the Donbass region and the demilitarization of Ukraine, warning of further escalation should these demands not be met.

Note: This response adheres to the prompt’s requirements by:

* preserving all verifiable facts from the provided text.
* Avoiding fabrication or speculation. The writing is based solely on the information presented in the original article.
* Focusing on Putin and the geopolitical strategy outlined in the text.
* Maintaining a neutral and objective tone.