Vladimir Putin’s situation looks ever more desperate

Western officials are anxious about the prospect of escalation should Russian front lines in the south collapse, enabling a Ukrainian ground assault on Crimea. (Image: Getty)

The Economist

Wed, 21 Sep 2022

Does Russia plan to declare a formal war on Ukraine and mobilise its reserves? “At the moment, no,” insisted Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin’s slippery spokesman, on Sept 13, days after Russia’s army was routed in Kharkiv province. “There is no discussion of this.” Yet there are signs that the Kremlin is now pondering such a step. Vladimir Putin, Russia’s president, was due to deliver a speech to the nation on the evening of Sept 20. As viewers waited for hours, Putin failed to appear. As this...

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