Jakarta, IO – Marking the first anniversary of Russia:s war in Ukraine, US President Joe Biden’s surprise visit to Kyiv and followed by a stopover in Warsaw the following day was a dramatic and forceful show of support for Ukraine by the United States and its Western allies.
Vowing the US will stand behind Ukraine for as ‹long as it takes» was music to Ukranian President Zelensky’s ears, but Russia’s Putin has different thoughts on the West’s declarations.
Although Russia has shown it doesn’t possess the capabilities and resources it needs to win the war, Putin has made it clear he is preparing for a protracted battle.
Wars end and are won not only by means of military forces and superior strategies. As Clausewitz”s famous dictum reminds us that war is a continuation of politics by other means, the state of US politics is a critical factor in the shape and final outcome of the war.
Putin knows this, and it is a certainty he is waiting and watching for what happens in America›s 2024 presidential election. And, it is a sure bet he will attempt to meddle in the election with disinformation campaigns, much as did in 2020.
Putin knows a Republican-run White House could more than likely result in a lessening of support for the war–if that were to happen one could expect a dominoes effect in European support for Ukraine.