In a rare public criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, two guests on state TV’s “Mesto Vstrechi” (Meeting Place) spoke highly of the West’s economic, demographic, and military capabilities and suggested ending Putin’s military adventure. Former State Duma deputy Boris Nadezhdin argued that the West is more powerful than Russia in terms of economy, demographics, and military strength. Nadezhdin proposed to end Putin’s military intervention in Ukraine and instead compete against the West’s superior capabilities.
Acknowledging the West’s Resilience
Political analyst Viktor Olevich agreed with Nadezhdin and added that the West has more significant capabilities than Russia and is more resilient, making it advantageous for Russia to end the conflict before suffering a crushing blow from the West. However, State Duma member Alexander Kazakov attempted to shut down Olevich’s remarks and claimed that the West is not ready to fight at all. He also added that if needed, Russia could aggressively take over Ukraine quickly.
The discussion on state TV highlighted a rare public criticism of Putin’s actions in the Ukrainian conflict and acknowledged the West’s superior capabilities. It remains to be seen whether this criticism will lead to any significant changes in Russia’s approach to the conflict.
Preparing for a Long-Term Conflict
Despite setbacks on the battlefield in Ukraine, Russia’s government officials continue to gather and express hope for peace. However, Putin’s spokesperson has warned that the war will take a long time. The Kremlin has successfully framed the conflict as necessary for Russia’s survival and put society on war footing with the West. National television broadcasts aggressive political talk shows; schools have added basic military training and “patriotic” lessons, and state rhetoric has led to a wave of denunciations by ordinary Russians of their colleagues and even friends.
To boost the military’s long-term prospects, Russia’s defense minister Sergei Shoigu has proposed increasing the armed forces from 1.15 million combat personnel to 1.5 million. Putin casts the war as an existential battle for Russia’s survival and recent speeches indicate a shift towards a “forever war.” Putin repeats grievances against the West and prepares the Russian public for a conflict that will never end.
Johnson Criticizes Putin’s Miscalculations
At the 16th Osigwe AnyiamOsigwe lecture in Lagos, Boris Johnson criticized Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. Johnson believes that Putin feared Ukraine’s democratic growth and that the Kremlin would rise against him in protest. Putin miscalculated by not seeing the heroic resistance of Ukrainians and underestimating their abilities. He also blamed Putin’s lack of democracy for making decisions based on flawed judgement as he was surrounded by “yes” men and sycophants.
Johnson believes that Ukraine’s victory is assured if Western allies continue to support them with weapons, and that the UK played a role in helping them kick Russian forces out of certain cities. Other countries including the US have pledged support to Ukraine until they defeat Russia.
Conclusion
The criticism on state TV, Boris Johnson’s remarks, and Russia’s ongoing preparations for a long-term conflict reflect a growing recognition of Western superiority and Putin’s miscalculations in initiating the conflict in Ukraine. While some Russians have embraced the country’s new direction, others acknowledge the costs of the conflict and that not everyone in Russia fully understands what they will have to pay to win this war. The conflict in Ukraine remains a significant challenge for both Russia and the West.
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
