August M
Staging a massive event to show the world that everything is fine requires absolute control over your surroundings.
When things start to go wrong right outside the window, carefully crafted narratives can quickly unravel. A high-profile international summit has just been interrupted by a very public reality check, reports Kyiv Post.
Smoke over summit
The Kremlin’s premier annual business event, the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, opened on Wednesday to an unexpected sight. Thick black smoke filled the sky as thousands of global delegates arrived for what is often called “Russia’s Davos.”
The disruption came from targeted Ukrainian long-range strikes hitting an oil terminal and a military base. AFP reported that smoke was visible from the venue. Sergiy Sternenko, an adviser to Ukraine’s defense minister, stated, “The Petersburg forum is opening with a nice plume of black smoke in the background after Ukrainian strikes,” noting the visual.
A strategic disaster
As the smoke rose, American officials delivered a blistering review of the war on Capitol Hill. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers that the ongoing invasion has turned into a massive failure for Moscow.
Rubio spoke plainly during a congressional hearing. “I don’t think there’s any doubt at this point, in the minds of most observers around the world, and I would say in the minds of some inside of Russia, that the invasion of Ukraine has been a strategic disaster for them,” Rubio said.
He added that Russia will never cross its original finish line. “They are not going to achieve the objectives they set out on day one, for certain. And they may not even be able to militarily ever achieve the objectives they’re demanding now in negotiations.”
Losing the momentum
European leaders also noticed the shifting tide. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told AFP, “It clearly shows panic on the Russian side,” adding that “Putin is losing money, men, and momentum, and that’s why he’s increasing attacks on civilians.”
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that these responses are expanding. “It’s just a matter of time before we can scale up the intensity of our responses,” Zelensky said at a press conference.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte even mocked the Russian leader’s vulnerability. Pointing to the Ukrainian president, Rutte stated, “Ukraine is now so successful that Putin is only able to organize a 9 May parade with an official presidential decree by this president,” showing how the tables have turned.
Sources: Kyiv Post, AFP
