Putin banks on wavering support for Ukraine

According to Vladimir Putin, the war's end in Ukraine is only a matter of time. During the Valdai Discussion Club on Thursday, Putin stated that if things go his way, the war can be over in a week. He's relying on the West to stop military and economic assistance to Ukraine. Just this last week, Joe Biden signed a law to keep the US government open. In doing so, he added no additional funding to Ukraine. Other countries, like Slovakia, have leaders pushing to stop aiding Ukraine. Putin is also relying on the public perception of Ukraine. He believes that if Ukraine is "seen as a losing cause, " countries will pull back for their own benefit. Not everyone is under the same mindset, however. The Russian government's ability to create well-trained troops seems less and less likely after the force they have faced on the battlefield. The will of the Ukrainian people alone, regardless of the support they receive, makes Putin's claim of their near defeat unlikely. 

Source: https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/08/europe/analysis-putin-ukraine-race-against-time-intl-hnk/index.html

By: Ayshe Ali