Putin is a smart operator. He knows Zelensky’s handlers will likely say no. Then, every additional inch of territory Russia claims from that point forward will be the their fault. And, we can’t dismiss the possibility this is pretending to be weak to tempt the west into sending even more unfortunate Ukrainian men to be slaughtered.
Either way you look at it, someone is floating a trial balloon. It doesn’t make a lot of sense that the DS is floating this as Putin’s idea. But, maybe they’re smarter than I think.
Putin is a smart operator. He knows Zelensky’s handlers will likely say no. Then, every additional inch of territory Russia claims from that point forward will be the their fault. And, we can’t dismiss the possibility this is pretending to be weak to tempt the west into sending even more unfortunate Ukrainian men to be slaughtered.
Why are you taking a Reuters article at face value? It is obviously made up. A trial balloon of sorts. See how Putin reacts.
Either way you look at it, someone is floating a trial balloon. It doesn’t make a lot of sense that the DS is floating this as Putin’s idea. But, maybe they’re smarter than I think.