Vladimir Putin does not intend to bend under the ultimatum of Donald Trump, and the Russians do not think that reaching for new sanctions will mean a disaster for them – writes Reuters on Tuesday, citing talks with three sources similar to the Kremlin.
Referring to conversations with sources, Reuters estimates that he is “unlikely that the Russian President will bury himself under the sanction ultimatum” that Donald Trump was issued against Moscow.
“The purpose of the Kremlin remains to take over control over four Ukrainian circuits” – he quotes his sources. If it happened, Putin would be ready for peace conversations.
As Reuters reports, Putin is to think that Russia is winning the war. At the same time, there is no conviction that any further American sanctions will seriously affect the Russian economy.
Reuters's interlocutors argue that Putin “does not want to annoy Trump.” “Although he realizes that he may lose his chances of improving the relationship with Washington and the West, war goals are more important to him,” they add.
According to one of the sources, recent negotiations between the Russians and Ukrainians were “attempted to convince Trump by Moscow that Putin did not reject peace.” Apart from the exchange of prisoners, they were to be “devoid of content”.
One of the sources maintains that Putin is to be “privately concerned about the last deterioration of the USA.” However, he still believes that “Russia may have friendly relations with the United States and trade with the West.”
The source of the agency claims that “the inhabitants of Russia and the army itself will not understand Putin” if he decides to end the war now. And the Russian General Staff had to Putin that “the Ukrainian front would fall apart” within two or three months.
“Putin cannot afford the end of the war just because Trump wants it,” Reuters quotes the statement of one of the interlocutors.
In the Kremlin – as the agency adds – there is aware that the sanctions will be “painful and unpleasant”. At the same time, Moscow does not consider them “as a disaster.” Putin's surroundings are also to be skepticism or Trump will decide to reach for sanctions at all, because – as one of the sources passed – “he was already threatened before, and then he did not take action or changed his mind.”
Reuters' accounts show that the Kremlin considers the scenario in which the Chinese stop buying oil from Russia.
One of the sources admits that by deciding to continue the war, Putin “rejects the offer” of the US presented in March. This concerned a full suspension of weapons in exchange for the abolition of sanctions and recognition of Russian control over Crimea and other occupied territories. The source called the “fantastic opportunity” offer, indicating that “the end of the war is much more difficult than its beginning.”
On July 29, Trump announced that he would impose new sanctions on Russia in 10 days if Moscow did not conclude an agreement on the end of the war. The ultimatum is on Friday.
In the coming days, the presidential envoy Steve Witkoff will go to Russia. The White House, however, does not involve his visit to great hopes.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia announced on Monday that Moscow does not feel a bound moratorium on the distribution of medium and shorter missiles. The announcement on this subject emphasized that this is the result of the US policy.
MOBR/ MAL/
