The Trap Deepens: Will Putin Continue to Support China's “Peace Plan” Amid Events in Kursk

The trap has deepened: will Putin continue to support China's “peace plan” amid the events in Kursk region? Victoria Grabovskaya

On the eve of the special operation of Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region, Vladimir Putin raised the topic of negotiations. In particular, he supported China's “peace plan”, which provides for a freeze in hostilities along the contact line at the start of negotiations.

However, in the context of the breakthrough of the Ukrainian Armed Forces to the Russian border in the Kursk region, this plan is perceived somewhat differently. According to political scientist Igor Reiterovich, which he expressed to Channel 24, Russia has found itself in a difficult situation.

We have a strategic advantage

Today, the operation in the Kursk region, which began on August 6, is expanding. Several dozen Russian settlements are under the control of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, in particular, the city of Sudzha.

Putin fell into a trap when he agreed to China's “peace plan”. Ukraine currently controls approximately 1,050 square kilometers of Russian territory, and they also fall under this agreement. It turns out that Putin, addressing the Russian people, says that during the so-called “SVO” he captured part of Ukraine, and also lost part of his own. This will look catastrophic for him, – the political scientist emphasized.

However, with each day of the special operation the trap for Russia deepens. In the first two days after it began, the Russian authorities hoped that the countries of the Global South would react to what was happening there. But only eight days later, China responded to these events with great restraint, calling, in particular, for an end to active hostilities.

This is essentially a recognition of the control that Ukraine has over part of Russian territory. Therefore, Putin now does not know where the right way out is, because whatever he does, it does not benefit the Russians, and this is very good for Ukraine, – noted Igor Reiterovich.

In this situation, in his opinion, the most important thing is to have a strategic initiative. Now the Armed Forces of Ukraine can determine the agenda – not only the military, but also the political component.

“The world hesitated at the beginning of the special operation, and then began to take the side of Ukraine, because the strong are loved. When you demonstrate that you have certain capabilities, everyone else will react accordingly,” the political scientist noted.