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Bloomberg: As the conflict in Ukraine continues, Russian President Vladimir Putin is growing increasingly confident that Russia’s military will outlast Ukraine, particularly as the U.S. and European Union are preoccupied with conflicts in the Middle East. The Kremlin believes it will maintain control over territories in southern and eastern Ukraine that were captured during the invasion. Putin aims to secure these territories while waiting for war fatigue to build up in the U.S. and Europe, pressuring Ukraine to seek a settlement.
After talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Putin visited Russia’s southern military headquarters for a briefing on the war in Ukraine. Ukrainian forces have made some progress, reclaiming settlements and continuing their counteroffensive, but Russia claims to have repelled these efforts. The U.S. and NATO allies have supplied Ukraine with billions of dollars in armaments, but challenges like funding cuts and political shifts in the European Union complicate support for Ukraine.
Amid the ongoing conflict, fierce fighting is taking place in eastern and northeastern Ukraine, with the UK Defence Ministry noting that Russia is carrying out its “most significant offensive operation” since January. Despite Putin’s optimism, there is gloom within the Russian elite about the war’s prospects.
While the U.S. and other NATO allies pledge continued support for Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East could potentially divert international attention. President Joe Biden has requested $61.4 billion in aid for Ukraine, but there is concern that focus may shift due to the Israel-Hamas conflict. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov suggests that a U.S. focus on the Middle East could speed up the Kremlin’s goals by slowing arms deliveries to Ukraine.
The entire article can be read at the link https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-10-21/putin-plays-for-time-in-russia-s-war-in-ukraine-with-us-eu-focused-on-mideast
