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Russian President Vladimir Putin is increasingly weakening his own state through the war against Ukraine and may soon face a dilemma of his own making, according to former US Special Representative for Ukraine Kurt Volker, UATV English informs.
In an interview with LIGA.net, Volker argued that Putin still believes the West is weak and divided, which encourages him to continue escalating pressure.
“Putin has invested so much into restructuring the Russian economy to sustain the war that he increasingly faces a choice: continue the aggression and pursue his vision, or preserve the Russian state,” Volker said.
According to him, the Kremlin leader could weaken Russia to the point where he is forced to choose between two unfavorable outcomes.
“He may eventually face the decision of either destroying the Russian state for the sake of his vision and personal legacy, or pausing in order to stabilize the country. I think that is the choice he will ultimately have to make,” Volker stated.
The former US diplomat suggested that the economic and political costs of the war are steadily increasing for Russia, limiting the Kremlin’s room for maneuver.
Earlier, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha argued that Russia’s difficulties on the battlefield are one of the reasons behind its intensified attacks on Ukrainian cities, saying that “the Kremlin has no other trump cards besides terror.”
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