Vladimir Putin is entering the most challenging period of his 25-year rule, with interviews revealing a rapidly disillusioned elite and a faltering war in Ukraine. Despite carefully staged appearances, such as a recent dinner with his former schoolteacher, the Russian president is increasingly isolated, according to well-placed sources.
A well-connected business leader said there has been a shift in mood among elites this year, with profound disappointment in Putin. 'No one believes everything will suddenly collapse tomorrow, but there is a growing realisation that utterly senseless, self-destructive decisions keep being made,' the source added. Putin's approval ratings are slipping, the economy is under pressure, and even pro-Kremlin bloggers are beginning to speak out.
Despite the cracks, Putin remains determined to press on with the war. He has told his inner circle he believes Moscow can capture the entirety of the Donbas region by the end of the year, according to two sources with access to the president. A Ukrainian intelligence official said Russian generals have convinced Putin that victory is imminent, but military analysts say at the current pace of advance, it could take years.
Officials and the military are painting a rosy picture for the president, with one person familiar with Kremlin discussions saying, 'They lie to him. That’s how the system Putin has built works.' Meanwhile, Putin has lost faith in Donald Trump’s ability to pressure Kyiv into surrendering territory, dashing earlier optimism in Moscow.
