Thread by @TheStudyofWar

#Putin and #Shoigu demonstrated that #Russia is not interested in reducing its war efforts or its war aims - despite the growing toll on Russian society - while presiding over a Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) Collegium in Moscow on December 21. isw.pub/UkrWar122122

https://twitter.com/TheStudyofWar/status/1605743139196735488

2/ Putin reiterated that Russia will ensure the safety of all Russian territories including illegally-annexed territories in Ukraine while at the MoD Collegium.

3/ Putin and Shoigu repeatedly rejected the idea of independent Ukrainian sovereignty and emphasized Russia’s need to keep Ukraine within the Kremlin’s sphere of influence and defeat the Ukrainian "Nazi" regime.

4/ The comments further illustrate that the Kremlin retains maximalist goals for the war in Ukraine.

5/ Russia's maximalist goals include recognition of illegally annexed territories, regime change of the Ukrainian government under the pretext of "denazification," control of Ukraine’s political and social character, and Western granting of Russia’s desired "security guarantees."

6/ The reiteration of Putin’s FEB 24 goals indicates that the Kremlin is deciding to embrace the sacrifices of the war and attempt to push on to victory. The Kremlin will need to continue to ask for and justify great sacrifices from its people to pursue these unrealistic goals.