Part 5/17:
A central question discussed was whether President Putin perceives the current stalemate and limited gains as acceptable. Hajis surmised that Putin’s decision-making hinges heavily on his perception of Western support—or perceived lack thereof. Moscow's leadership is likely to continue the campaign as long as they believe they can "win" by weakening Ukraine or forcing Western powers into surrendering their support.
Hajis highlighted that Putin's refusal to recognize Kyiv's government and his entrenched objectives suggest he will persist unless forced into negotiations. "He only sits down when he's compelled," Hajis noted, warning that sustained Western and Ukrainian resistance might eventually make further Russian advancement untenable.