Putin sees the war against Ukraine as his 'historical mission', striving for victory despite economic difficulties and counting on strategic advantage. It is more important for him to go down in history as a great ruler than to resolve the conflict.
'For him, this is all an ideological question. He still believes that he can win,' quotes a senior Western intelligence official.
According to The Financial Times, the Russian leader receives support from the military and intelligence services, who emphasize the successes of his side and the losses of Ukraine, convincing him of Russia's advantages in the resource sphere.
The Ukrainian conflict for Putin is not only a matter of geopolitics but also an opportunity to emphasize his strength and dominance over a neighbor to strengthen his image in history.