The entire Russian war against Ukraine is based on lies, including President Putin’s belief that he can win, says David J. Kramer, opinion contributor for The Hill. One of the biggest Russian disinformation operations contains false claims that Ukraine attempted to attack Putin’s residence in Valdai.
Misleading Trump in "peace" talks
Putin has also lied to Trump by claiming he wanted Ukraine to succeed during US-initiated peace efforts. In reality, he has never recognized Ukraine as a truly independent state.
These ambitions and lies have been costly for Russia
According to DeepState, in 2025, Russian forces occupied 4,336 sq km of Ukrainian territory. The analysts described this as a poor outcome, noting that Russian losses in 2024 increased at a faster rate than at any time since 2022.
Since the start of the full-scale war, Russia has reportedly lost over 1.2 million soldiers killed or wounded.
Economic slowdown raises questions about Russia's war capacity
As Meduza notes, after two years of war-driven growth, Russia’s economy is slowing to nearly zero. Low oil prices forced the Central Bank of Russia to warn of potential budget cuts. On this basis, journalists say Western confidence in a Russian victory is built on lies.
The West should respect the will of 76% of Ukrainians
Polls show that 76% of Ukrainians, despite exhaustion, reject recognizing occupied territories as part of Russia in exchange for ending the war.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy must consider the will of the Ukrainian people, who seek a just peace in which Russia cannot attack again. The US and other partners should also respect this public opinion before pressuring Kyiv for compromises, adds Kramer.
