Putin will not engage in peace talks with Ukraine: Historian Hrytsak outlines dictator’s intentions

Russian dictator Vladimir Putin currently shows no willingness to bring an end to the war against Ukraine; on the contrary, he is poised to continue ratcheting up pressure and driving further escalation.

This opinion was expressed by Ukrainian historian Yaroslav Hrytsak in an interview with 24 Kanal.

According to him, while signs of war fatigue are becoming increasingly visible in Russia, this does not mean that the Kremlin is ready to change its policy.

«Is Russia facing demoralization? Yes, absolutely. Videos emerging from Moscow clearly indicate that its residents are bewildered. There is a mounting desire—not necessarily to reconcile with Ukraine, but simply to bring the war to a halt, given that it yields no tangible returns. Putin is failing to deliver any substantive results in this war, ” Hrytsak said.

At the same time, he stressed that it is a mistake to evaluate the Russian leader’s decision-making solely through the lens of logic or pragmatism.

«It is crucial to recognize that Putin is not merely immoral, but fundamentally irrational. Most of our forecasts are built on the flawed premise that he plays chess and thinks rationally, but that is simply not the case. He is highly emotional and deeply unpredictable, ” the historian added.

A challenge for Ukraine and the international community

In Hrytsak’s view, this very unpredictability remains one of the single greatest challenges confronting both Ukraine and the wider international community. He cautioned that even the most extreme scenarios should not be dismissed outright.

«There is no telling what he might resort to when backed into a corner. It remains entirely within the realm of possibility that he could deploy tactical nuclear weapons. This scenario cannot be ruled out, ” he warned.

The historian is also convinced that without serious external pressure, the Kremlin will have no incentive to start real negotiations.

«I see absolutely no reason why Putin would ease the pressure or sit down at the negotiating table unless confronted with powerful external leverage, ” he stressed.

Yaroslav Hrytsak added that despite calls for peace from a segment of Russian society, there are currently no signs that the Kremlin chief is ready to change course.

«I see no reasons why Putin would want to end this war or reduce its intensity. I think he will continue to escalate, ” he concluded.