The Kremlin is prepared to declare an end to the war without a victory - The Telegraph

The Kremlin is stepping up preparations for a possible end to the war against Ukraine, yet Russian dictator Vladimir Putin still lacks a clear plan for exiting the conflict. 

Journalist Owen Matthews writes about this in his column for The Telegraph. 

Despite growing domestic discontent and Ukrainian drone strikes on Moscow, the Russian government remains effectively paralyzed due to the elite’s overwhelming fear of the regime’s potential collapse.

Leaked documents from the Kremlin indicate that the team of Sergei Kirienko, deputy head of the Russian presidential administration, is already developing scenarios for “post-war Russia” and preparing propaganda narratives designed to explain to the public the end of hostilities without achieving the stated goals. In addition, officials are seeking mechanisms to control radical war supporters who might perceive such an outcome as a betrayal. Former Russian diplomat Boris Bondarev notes that due to the tight control of the security services, trust has vanished within the ruling circles, making it impossible to organize a conspiracy against Putin, and his removal could lead to the complete collapse of a system that rests on a single person.

At the same time, as Matthews notes, there are almost no signs of a willingness to compromise in Putin’s behavior. After the May 9 parade, the Russian president merely hinted that the war was “nearing its end,” but added that there was still “a great deal of preparatory work” ahead.

Russia is running out of resources to continue the war against Ukraine, and losses on the front lines and sanctions are gradually eroding the economy and stability. This was stated by Estonian foreign intelligence.

In Europe, the debate over whether to talk to Russia about peace has intensified once again.