WP: Russian Elite's Dissatisfaction With Putin Grows

• 16.07.2025, 7:56

Trump's ultimatum has had an effect.

In Russia, there is a growing number of those who are outraged by Putin's policy, which could have stopped the war in Ukraine a long time ago, but has not done so so far. Part of the Russian elite has taken seriously Trump's new ultimatum, as well as the US readiness to start new arms deliveries to Ukraine. They believe that Putin may, in fact, be overestimating his capabilities.

The Carnegie Russia-Eurasia Center's Tatiana Stanovaya said that the number of dissatisfied people in Russia continues to grow, The Washington Post reported.

Some Kremlin officials believe there was a moment when Putin could have sat down at the negotiating table and stopped the war, but he didn't because he was stubborn and irrational.

Many in Russia were confident that Putin and Trump would be able to reach a deal, but in reality, it didn't work out. Russia's financial elite is worried about the future state of an economy that is already suffering badly from sanctions and war spending.

One Russian official said Putin wants to bring what he has started to a "victorious end." This is despite economists and businessmen urging him to be cautious.

The Kremlin is confident of victory, as Russia is backed by the DPRK and China. At the same time, last week the Levada Center conducted a sociological poll among Russians. It showed that already 64% are in favor of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.

But Putin and his entourage don't seem to realize that discontent in the country is growing. What matters to the Kremlin now is how much more territory in Ukraine they manage to seize.