A Russian opposition political activist has blasted Vladimir Putin claiming the war leader as “utterly failed” in his aims for the invasion of Ukraine and “already lost the war”.
During a fascinating debate on German broadcaster DW’s Conflict Zone show, presenter Tim Sebastian asked Mr Vladimir Kara-Murza, who has been exiled from Russia, what would happen if Putin won the war.
Mr Kara-Murza replied that “of course, in the most important sense Putin has already lost the war in Ukraine”, but Mr Sebastian countered that “some people would say he had already won”.
Doubling-down on his assessment Mr Kara-Murza continued: “No, he has already lost, because let’s not forget his original aims in February 2022; he was taking Kyiv in five days, he was destroying Ukraine as a sovereign independent country that was able to make its own decisions in foreign and domestic policy, and on both of those counts very clearly, Vladimir Putin has utterly failed.”
Mr Sebastian pointed out Russian forces hold around 20% of Ukrainian territory, to which Mr Kara-Murza replied that the “goal was 100%”.
He added: “The goal was the destruction of Ukraine as a sovereign, independent state, of course what you’re saying, that’s exactly how the Putin propaganda machine will try to present it.
“But he must not be allowed to get away with this because the only way to judge the outcome is to compare it with the original goals, he didn’t take Kyiv in five days, he did not destroy Ukraine as a sovereign independent country, and it’s very clear that he will not be able to.”
Tensions in the war between Russia and Ukraine have ratcheted up in recent weeks after President Biden lifted a ban on Ukraine to using Western-supplied longer range missiles to strike inside Kremlin territory.
Britain’s formidable Storm Shadow missiles are also now thought to have been used to strike inside Russian territory, but this has not been confirmed by the Ministry of Defence or Number 10.
The UK is believed to have allowed its Storm Shadow missiles to be used by Ukrainian forces within the Kursk region of Russia, while the US has given permission for its ATACMS weapons to be fired at targets in Mr Putin’s country.
Meanwhile, Mr Putin confirmed Russia has tested the new intermediate-range weapon in an attack on Dnipro in Ukraine in response.
The US said the weapon is an experimental, intermediate-range missile based on Russia’s existing RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile. The missile has a range which could easily bridge the 1,500 miles between Moscow and London.
