Putin would consider the capture of even two centimeters of Ukrainian territory a success — Tom Cooper
Any scenario for ending the war that involves Russia retaining control over even a small portion of Ukrainian territory will be viewed by the Kremlin as a strategic success.
This view was expressed on the Espreso TV channel by Austrian military historian and aviation analyst Tom Cooper.
The analyst emphasized that from the very beginning, Russian leadership had based its plans on an idealized “best-case scenario.”
Putin had counted on a lightning-fast capture of territories at least as far as the Dnipro River within a few weeks, which ultimately drove him into a strategic trap due to the mismatch between his plans and reality.
According to Cooper, for the Russian dictator, the number of human casualties or the scale of economic losses for the Russian Federation are not decisive factors.
The main criterion is the result: “And a result such as the destruction of Ukraine and the damage this inflicts on NATO, as well as the European Union, is a huge achievement for him.”
Therefore, the aggressor continues to move in the chosen direction, despite the catastrophic consequences for his own country.
“Whether Putin preserves 2 square centimeters of Ukraine or 20% of its territory is of no fundamental importance. If he retains even a little something after this war, he will already consider it a success,” Cooper emphasized.
The military historian noted that Western politicians still do not realize the true price the world will have to pay if Putin’s regime succeeds.
This lack of understanding leads to a lack of real mobilization among European societies—neither economically nor militarily.
According to the analyst, European leaders have for years been trying merely to maintain the status quo, which is an ineffective strategy.
Europe continues to operate according to the patterns of 2021, avoiding decisive steps toward large-scale rearmament and support for Ukraine, even though “the only way to win this war is to defeat Russia on the battlefield.”
As a reminder, Putin has stopped appearing in the Kremlin out of fear of being assassinated.
Trump also said he trusts Putin more than Zelenskyy.
