Kremlin intensifies push to sway west amid Ukraine conflict
According to the latest report by the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW), the Kremlin is increasing pressure in an attempt to persuade Western countries to make decisions favorable to Russia regarding the war in Ukraine. Moscow is exploiting uncertainty about future U.S. policy.
5:21 PM EST, November 16, 2024
"The Kremlin apparently wants to exploit uncertainty about future U.S. policy regarding Ukraine and is intensifying its reflexive control campaign towards European countries," ISW assesses.
The method of "reflexive control" involves influencing recipients to elicit a desired reaction, often through manipulation and disinformation.
In this context, ISW notes the first telephone conversation in two years between German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Vladimir Putin.
During the conversation, Putin repeated several Kremlin information strategies, aiming to influence the German government and other Western countries to urge Ukraine towards premature peace instead of providing it with military support.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky assessed that it is opening a 'Pandora's box', adding that the phone conversation helps Putin achieve his goals: reducing international isolation and pushing negotiations on Russian terms, which "will lead nowhere."
Moscow is not ready to compromise
ISW summarizes that recently, Russia has intensified informational and rhetorical activities, aiming to influence the foreign policy of the future U.S. administration led by President-elect Donald Trump.
On the other hand, Moscow emphasizes that it is not ready to compromise, clearly indicating that its long-term goal remains the capitulation of Ukraine.
