Jonathan Wachtel on Putin Escalating Ukraine War Amidst Peace Talks

Putin's Escalation of the War in Ukraine

• ⚡ Vladimir Putin is currently ratcheting up the war in Ukraine, not showing any desire to de-escalate.
• 🎯 Russia is employing hundreds of drones and sophisticated strikes that are causing Ukraine to lose ground, though not a complete collapse of front lines.
• 📈 This incremental loss of ground emboldens Putin, giving him confidence to continue his military actions and potentially gain more in future settlements.

Impact on Diplomatic Efforts

• 🚫 The current barrage of Russian attacks completely undercuts diplomatic efforts and removes pressure on the Kremlin to negotiate.
• ⏳ Without sufficient pressure, the conflict is likely to grind on for a very long time, characterized by loss of life and economic devastation.
• 🗣️ There is a need for international pressure to tell Putin, "enough is enough," and encourage a peaceful resolution.

Putin's Meeting with Indian Prime Minister Modi

• 🤝 Putin's visit to India marked his first since the invasion of Ukraine and was characterized by pomp and congratulatory expressions between the leaders.
• 📉 Optically, this meeting is damaging to global efforts to end the war, as it appears to endorse Putin.
• 🌐 The close military and economic ties between Russia and India, reminiscent of the Soviet era, are adversarial to US foreign policy and global peace efforts.