On June 28, during the United Russia party congress, Vladimir Putin once again made a series of statements that analysts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) characterize as an intentional falsification of the military situation. According to an ISW report cited by RBC-Ukraine, the head of the Russian state continues to construct a narrative of 'victories' for the Russian army and 'defeats' for the Ukrainian Defense Forces, despite the lack of real evidence to support such claims.
Military Path as the Only Solution
The key message of Putin's speech boils down to demonstrating the determination to achieve all goals in the war against Ukraine exclusively through military means. As experts note, the Russian leader resolutely rejects any calls for negotiations coming from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Instead, the Kremlin conveys confidence that Russia has sufficient strength, resources, and political will to stand up to the West in the event of an escalation of the conflict.
Myths about the Withdrawal of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
One of the central theses of the speech was the claim that the Ukrainian Defense Forces are allegedly 'retreating' along the entire front line. However, as American analysts emphasize, there is no confirmation of these statements. Putin's speech was perceived as yet another attempt to present Russia's military victory over Ukraine as inevitable, as well as to convince Russian society that the Armed Forces of Ukraine are on the verge of collapse.
Ignoring Internal Problems
Interestingly, in his speech, Putin did not touch upon such critically important issues as Ukrainian sabotage campaigns on Russian territory or the massive gasoline shortage sweeping the country. Nevertheless, according to ISW analysts, the head of the Kremlin is probably trying to implicitly show that he is aware of the economic and social difficulties facing Russia.
Admission of Lies about the Summit with Trump
Previously, RBC-Ukraine reported that Putin was forced to admit the Kremlin's lies regarding the results of the summit with Donald Trump in Alaska. This became another example of how the Russian leadership tries to adjust its rhetoric under the pressure of facts. In addition, the dictator had to react to the critical fuel situation in Crimea, which also indicates a growing number of internal problems.
Kyiv's Reaction
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has already commented on Putin's new statements and fabrications. Diplomats mocked the public bravado of the head of the Kremlin, pointing out the obvious discrepancy between his words and the real situation on the front and inside the country. As experts note, such speeches only highlight the Russian leadership's detachment from reality and its desire to maintain the illusion of control over the situation.