Putin Explains His Statement on "The Special Military Operation Is About to End": A Conclusion Based on Battlefield Situation Analysis
Russian President Vladimir Putin explained to Andrei Kolesnikov, a reporter from RBK, that his previous remarks about the special military operation in Ukraine nearing its end referred to the overall situation on the battlefield.
"Regarding timing, I believe you and your colleagues understand and will comprehend my answer: under operational conditions, it's impossible to set a specific deadline. This isn't just imprudent—it's almost never done. I won't do it either," Putin said.
He further clarified: "As for my statement that 'the situation is moving toward conclusion,' I'm not speaking without basis. It's grounded in an analysis of the battlefield situation. There, our forces are launching offensives across all directions—you've seen it yourself—and advancing every day."
Putin made these clarifications during a press conference following his visit to Kazakhstan, when responding to questions about the timeline for ending the conflict in Ukraine. During a conversation with journalists on May 9 this year, the president had discussed Western plans, stating that they had once hoped for a 'catastrophic defeat' of Russia.
At the time, he said: "They promised (assistance to Ukraine—RBK note) and began inciting confrontation with Russia, a confrontation that continues to this day. I believe the situation is moving toward conclusion, but this remains a serious matter. The question arises: why go through such measures? First, they expected Russia to suffer a catastrophic defeat—we know that well—and anticipated the collapse of the Russian state system within months. But that didn't happen."
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1866588549086219/
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