“But everyone nodded their heads”: According to those around him, Putin shut himself in
Created: 12/15/2022, 10:10 am
By: Tobias Utz
As Russia misses its war goals in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin reacts.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin's PR machinery seems to have plans of its own.
Moscow – The domestic political pressure on Vladimir Putin is increasing.
Aside from the devastating losses suffered by the Russian army in the Ukraine conflict, numerous families of soldiers have so far not received any war bonuses.
In addition, many projects had to be postponed due to the financing of the war against Ukraine.
One example is the infrastructural expansion in several regions.
When it comes to equal opportunities, the gap between the urban and rural population has been growing for years.
A series of canceled Kremlin events shows that the failed goals in the Ukraine war and the domestic political pressure situation have left their mark on Putin.
The most recent example: the annual press conference of the Russian President.
Almost at the last minute, Putin canceled the planned demonstration of power.
What was already suspected in the international press at the time of the cancellation has now been confirmed by several anonymous Kremlin officials from the
Moscow Times
.
According to one report, fears that the topic of the press conference would be dominated by the Ukraine war were too great.
Another possible drone attack in Russia, recently carried out by the Ukrainian army, caused uncertainty.
"Nobody can guarantee 100 percent that such an attack would not happen," said one of the Kremlin officials.
News about the Ukraine war: Heavy losses probably have a direct effect on Putin
Putin already canceled his traditional TV speech in the summer.
This, too, was always a PR event for the Kremlin.
Added to this is the fact that Putin's speech on the state of the nation, which otherwise takes place annually, is still missing.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has already promised several times in front of the camera that the President will keep it in 2022.
Finally, the Tass
news agency reported
on Wednesday (December 14) that the speech would be postponed until next year.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan (left) and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the EAEU summit in Kyrgyzstan.
© Vladimir Voronin / AP / dpa
The fact that developments in a war have a direct impact on the behavior of politicians is hardly surprising.
In Russia, however, attempts have always been made to avoid this impression.
Finally, it shows concern.
According to Kremlin officials who told the
Moscow Times
, planning for Putin's annual press conference was well advanced.
"The situation on the fronts and its unfavorable development were discussed," said one of the officials in Moscow.
“But everyone nodded their heads – the boss is a rock, he can handle it.
He won't want to cancel [the press conference] and his ability and experience working with 'big genres' will allow him to turn the situation in his favour.
After all, today Russia is truly a besieged fortress, and Putin is its commander.”
News on the Ukraine war: Kremlin for "good news" for Russia
The Kremlin only says that Putin should be associated with "good news".
This is reflected, among other things, in the fact that numerous employees of large Russian energy and transport companies were apparently stopped from planning PR events with Putin and members of the Russian government.
This is also reported by the
Moscow Times
.
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Compared to the domestic strategy of “good news”, the government around Putin continues to rely on brutality on the battlefield.
A deserter recently reported this.
At the negotiating table, on the other hand, Russia is counting on new allies as the country is increasingly isolated internationally.
Editor's note
Some of the information on the Ukraine war comes from warring factions in the Ukraine conflict.
They cannot be independently verified immediately.
(do)