The Russian dictator has started perceiving Ukraine as an equal opponent
Former advisor to the Russian dictator Andrey Illarionov has pointed to a change in Vladimir Putin's rhetoric during the recent Valdai Club meeting. The expert believes the Kremlin has started to acknowledge Ukraine's military strength and its capacity for equal resistance. This was reported by Glavcom citing Andrey Illarionov, according to the portal PromPolitInform.
Economist Andrey Illarionov, who long served as an advisor to the head of the Kremlin regime, noted that Vladimir Putin’s speech at the Valdai Club meeting differs significantly from previous statements. According to the analyst, the Russian leader’s rhetoric points to profound shifts in how he perceives the war against Ukraine.
In particular, one notes the departure from the term “special military operation” in favor of directly acknowledging the fact that a war is underway. Illarionov emphasized that Putin now openly talks about hostilities against both Ukraine and European nations, terms previously obscured by propaganda labels.
Changed perception of the enemy
The expert considers the focus on Ukrainian actions particularly significant. While Moscow previously focused on grievances against the US, NATO, or the UK, Putin now increasingly complains specifically about Ukraine, attempting to frame his attacks as “symmetrical responses.”
This, in Illarionov’s view, indicates a psychological shift, as the Kremlin previously demonstrated confidence in swiftly capturing Ukraine. Now, the dictator effectively recognizes Ukraine as a subject capable of delivering strikes that require a reaction, which, in Putin’s own eyes, puts Kyiv on an equal footing with Moscow.
Acknowledging real resistance
The analyst stressed that this change in position is forced and reflects a realistic assessment of the military potential of Ukraine’s Defense Forces. For the Kremlin elite, this signifies a move away from a strategy of easy conquests toward recognizing a serious and equivalent adversary on the battlefield.
Illarionov emphasized the importance of these assessments coming directly from the Kremlin. In his view, this is not an external interpretation by Western politicians but an internal acknowledgement that the Russian authorities can no longer ignore Ukraine’s real military power.
Photo: росЗМІ
Read also: Putin’s rhetoric at Valdai: an analysis of manipulative constructions
