Mick Ryan on Russia and the United States
Australian general and military analyst Mick Ryan said on the Times Radio YouTube channel that Vladimir Putin believes former US president Donald Trump now views him as a loser. In Ryan's assessment, that is why Putin is determined to capture more territory, which would in turn require additional troops. Over the past week Russia has lost ground, and its monthly advance now amounts to roughly 10 square miles.
Ryan noted that in the spring the Russian army, for the first time since August 2024, recorded a net loss of territory, giving up about 400 square kilometers in April and May. Monthly personnel losses went from 30,000 to approximately 43,000. The analyst predicts that the creeping mobilization under way since 2022 will accelerate. Personnel changes in the Russian command may also signal an evolving strategy.
"Putin is unhappy because he thinks Trump now regards him as a loser. As Putin sees it, the only way to reverse that perception is to seize more land — and for that he needs more troops." Mick Ryan
These remarks raise concerns about Russia's next steps in the region and the consequences for international security. For observers tracking the war, they also offer a fresh clue about how the momentum on the ground may be changing.
Territorial Setbacks Grow as Mobilization Efforts Intensify
Ryan's assessment points to the tense situation surrounding Russia's aggression and suggests that Kremlin military planning may be shifting. Rising territorial losses and an expanding mobilization effort indicate that Moscow is trying to find new ways to sustain its military ambitions, which fuels serious questions about regional stability.
Tracking Russia's upcoming actions and the international community's response will be central to determining how the conflict unfolds.