Putin concedes military failures, but insists Russia will keep fighting
Accepting criticism that his army lacked the basics to wage war, the Russian leader said his government was providing "everything the army asks".
After months of scathing assessments from inside and outside Russia that its war effort in Ukraine lacked even the basic resources needed to prevail, President Vladimir V. Putin delivered his own verdict on that criticism on Wednesday: it is valid.
In an unusual acknowledgment of Russia's shortcomings in In a speech at the Defense Ministry in Moscow, the Russian leader ticked off a list of areas his military needs to improve. He said drones must be able to communicate targeting information through encrypted channels "in real time". He said the army needed to "improve the command and control system" and its ability to retaliate against enemy artillery. sent to the front without basic equipment, ordering officers to pay attention to "medical kits, food, dry rations, uniforms, shoes, protective helmets and bulletproof vests".
But Far from being an admission of defeat, Mr. Putin's reference to his military's woes reflected his message of defiance the day the Ukrainian president showed unity with the United States: Russia will carry on to fight.
"We have no limits in terms of funding," Putin said, insisting that Russia would eventually win in Ukraine. “The country and the government provide everything the army asks for — everything. Putin has held his own showy rally, addressing members of parliament and even Patriarch Kirill I of the Russian Orthodox Church for a speech at an annual meeting of senior army officers.
Comparing Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine to the "heroes" who repelled Napoleon's invading army in 1812 and defeated Hitler in 1945, Mr. Putin hinted that his war was just as existential – never mind that it was Moscow now doing the invasion. He also sought to project an image of controlling the war effort and caring for the needs of the common soldier, at one point urging the assembled military to heed "criticism".
Equally important to the Kremlin, Mr. Putin has sought to project an air of determination to the West: the idea that whatever arms support the Ukraine, and despite the problems of the Russian military, the Kremlin remains determined to triumph in the end.
At the same time, Russian officials remind the West that they are ready to reach an agreement to end the war - on their terms.
"Russia is always open to holding constructive peace talks" , said Sergei K. Shoigu, the Russian Defense Minister, after Mr. Putin's intervention.
Mr. Shoigu promised to make changes in the structure of the army, create new units and increase its target size by more than 300,000 soldiers. State TV also showed Mr. Shoigu showing Mr. Putin modern Russian military equipment, including surveillance drones,...
Accepting criticism that his army lacked the basics to wage war, the Russian leader said his government was providing "everything the army asks".
After months of scathing assessments from inside and outside Russia that its war effort in Ukraine lacked even the basic resources needed to prevail, President Vladimir V. Putin delivered his own verdict on that criticism on Wednesday: it is valid.
In an unusual acknowledgment of Russia's shortcomings in In a speech at the Defense Ministry in Moscow, the Russian leader ticked off a list of areas his military needs to improve. He said drones must be able to communicate targeting information through encrypted channels "in real time". He said the army needed to "improve the command and control system" and its ability to retaliate against enemy artillery. sent to the front without basic equipment, ordering officers to pay attention to "medical kits, food, dry rations, uniforms, shoes, protective helmets and bulletproof vests".
But Far from being an admission of defeat, Mr. Putin's reference to his military's woes reflected his message of defiance the day the Ukrainian president showed unity with the United States: Russia will carry on to fight.
"We have no limits in terms of funding," Putin said, insisting that Russia would eventually win in Ukraine. “The country and the government provide everything the army asks for — everything. Putin has held his own showy rally, addressing members of parliament and even Patriarch Kirill I of the Russian Orthodox Church for a speech at an annual meeting of senior army officers.
Comparing Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine to the "heroes" who repelled Napoleon's invading army in 1812 and defeated Hitler in 1945, Mr. Putin hinted that his war was just as existential – never mind that it was Moscow now doing the invasion. He also sought to project an image of controlling the war effort and caring for the needs of the common soldier, at one point urging the assembled military to heed "criticism".
Equally important to the Kremlin, Mr. Putin has sought to project an air of determination to the West: the idea that whatever arms support the Ukraine, and despite the problems of the Russian military, the Kremlin remains determined to triumph in the end.
At the same time, Russian officials remind the West that they are ready to reach an agreement to end the war - on their terms.
"Russia is always open to holding constructive peace talks" , said Sergei K. Shoigu, the Russian Defense Minister, after Mr. Putin's intervention.
Mr. Shoigu promised to make changes in the structure of the army, create new units and increase its target size by more than 300,000 soldiers. State TV also showed Mr. Shoigu showing Mr. Putin modern Russian military equipment, including surveillance drones,...
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