August M
Putin underestimated Ukraine’s strength, expert says
Putin underestimated Ukraine’s strength, expert says
Why Putin won’t back down from the war in Ukraine
The war in Ukraine has dragged on for years, with staggering losses on both sides. While many ask what it would take to bring the fighting to an end,
One expert argues that for Vladimir Putin, peace isn’t an option — because stopping the war could cost him not just power, but his life. According to former U.S. Congressman Donald Ritter, Putin’s motives aren’t ideological, but deeply personal and political.
The war wasn’t about NATO or empire
Speaking to the Polish Press Agency (PAP), Donald Ritter rejected common theories about why Putin invaded Ukraine. According to Super Express,
Ritter said that Putin didn’t start the war because of Russian nationalism, fear of NATO, or a desire to rebuild the Soviet empire. Instead, Ritter claims, “He started the war to achieve a quick victory in three to five days and return to his electorate with a huge surge in popularity,” reports Super Express.
Putin misjudged Ukrainian resistance
Experts believe that Putin’s biggest mistake was underestimating Ukraine’s ability to fight back. As Super Express reports, the Russian leader expected a swift operation — much like his previous campaigns in Crimea (2014) and Georgia (2008), reports Super Express.which temporarily boosted his approval ratings.
This time, however, “He didn’t realize that Ukrainians were so resilient and capable of resistance.”
For Putin, losing the war means losing everything
Now, Ritter argues, Putin is trapped. According to Super Express, he told PAP that “If Putin stopped the war now… he would be in danger, he could lose power and his life.”
After transforming Russia into a war economy and isolating it internationally, any retreat would be seen as a massive defeat. That’s why, Ritter says, Putin will continue the war “to the last Russian” if necessary.
How the West could change the course
Asked what could force Putin to reconsider, Ritter offered a clear strategy: increase the military cost of continuing the war.
Super Express quotes him as saying, “What would work would be to enable Ukraine to win this war, or to make continuing the conflict so costly for Russia that the signal would reach thousands of oligarchs around Putin.” That, he argues, means providing Ukraine with long-range weapons such as Taurus and Tomahawk missiles, reports Super Express.
Ritter: “Stop negotiating and arm Ukraine”
Ritter criticized efforts at diplomacy, calling for a shift in Western strategy. As reported by Super Express, he stated,
“Let’s strengthen the power of the weapons in the hands of the Ukrainians to increase the costs of this war for Putin.” In his view, negotiations and compromise will do little unless the West acknowledges that Putin, as he put it, “has always been a criminal.”
Will Putin attack NATO next?
According to Super Express, when asked whether NATO countries like Poland are at risk, Ritter was cautious but realistic. He acknowledged that Putin might see Poland — now a strong NATO presence — as a threat.
but added that even Putin’s war of attrition comes with costs. Still, Super Express quotes him saying, “Putin wants to fight to the last Russian,” suggesting that escalation can’t be ruled out unless the West makes the war unwinnable for him reports super exspress.
A war driven by survival, not strategy
If Donald Ritter is right, Vladimir Putin’s war isn’t about geopolitics — it’s about survival.
That mindset makes peace harder to reach, because losing could mean the end of Putin himself. In this light, Western leaders may need to rethink their approach: not to negotiate with a rational actor, but to outlast one fighting with nothing to lose.
This article is made and published by August M, who may have used AI in the preparation
