Putin comments on the counter-offensive for the first time – the Donbass admission is followed by Erdogan's song of praise

Created: 09/18/2022, 06:08

By: Hannes Niemeyer

Ukraine launched a counter-offensive in the war.

According to Putin, we have to wait and see “what this ends with”.

The Kremlin boss only has words of praise for Erdogan.

Kyiv – embarrassment for Russia in the Ukraine war?

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's troops are advancing again in some areas of the country and in a few days will take back what Russia had laboriously conquered over many months.

Almost every day there are reports of recaptured areas, for example in the Kharkiv region.

Russian soldiers are said to have fled the places, leaving military equipment and weapons behind.

And not only in the war is a new course emerging, even in Putin's propaganda machine the key is changing.

While things are apparently not going according to plan for Russia in Ukraine, Vladimir Putin has again solicited support from supposedly well-disposed countries.

In Uzbekistan, the Kremlin chief met Chinese President Xi Jinping and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Above all, the meeting between Putin and Xi seemed surprisingly empty and lacking in euphoria, despite all efforts to pull together.

On the fringes of the meeting, however, Putin also commented on the course of the war in Ukraine.

Ukraine counteroffensive: Putin admits "slow speed" in advance in Donbass

It's not just in the Kharkiv region that things have apparently been going unfavorably for the Russians. Putin's war machine is also faltering in the Donbass.

"Our offensive operations in the Donbass will not be suspended," Putin said at a press conference at the conclusion of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Uzbekistan on Friday evening, but he also had to admit that the offensive on the ground was progressing "at a slow pace". .

Nevertheless, one would “always take new territories”.

Meanwhile, the Russian president is also playing for time, claiming there is no rush to end the “special military operation”.

The major war goal, the "liberation" of the Donbass region, remains in place.

At the same time, Putin spoke for the first time at the SCO meeting about the Ukrainians' reconquest.

However, he did not add more than a mysterious "let's see how this develops and what it will end with".

Instead, he referred to the strength of his army.

"I draw your attention to the fact that we are not fighting with the whole army," he threatened.

However, it was recently said that Russia would not be sending any new troops for the time being.

Putin (right) was full of praise for Erdogan (left) at the meeting in Uzbekistan.

© IMAGO/Alexandr Demyanchuk

At SCO meetings, Putin speaks for the first time about the Ukraine counter-offensive – and then raves about Erdogan

At the press conference, Putin sees the fact that there are no peace talks as the responsibility of Ukraine President Zelensky.

In contrast to his Ukrainian opponent, however, Erdogan became enthusiastic about his Turkish counterpart.

Putin was full of praise, recognizing Erdogan's "significant contribution" in trying to end the conflict.

In the past, Erdogan had repeatedly promoted meetings between Putin and Zelenskyy, offered himself as a mediator and was also in charge of the deal to export grain supplies from Ukraine.

Putin, meanwhile, assured Erdogan that Moscow was very interested in closer ties with Ankara and was ready to "significantly expand" Russian exports to the country.

As the great statesman, however, Putin could not present himself at the SCO meeting.

Instead, the impression was given that the Kremlin boss had lost some of his status.

Even Kyrgyzstan's president kept Putin waiting, which is why there was talk of "public humiliation".