Putin's Vladivostok forum underwhelming and Alarming

The outcomes of wars of attrition are typically decided by the capacity to mobilize material resources. The Kremlin appears to believe, however, that impressions matter more than real capabilities and the depth of public support. Putin likely knows that his courtiers deliver only doctored data, and his only sincere remark at the Vladivostok forum was that nobody could be trusted, but he probably does not care to get the true picture (Holod.media, September 5). He is probably most concerned that Xi is well informed about Russia’s economic degradation. The escalation of drone and missile strikes on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities is likely supposed to balance this suspected impression and reinforce the message that Russia’s stability can only be ensured by a victory (RBC-Ukraine, September 7). Xi, Trump, and even the European leaders could agree that Russia’s defeat is a high-risk scenario, but granting it a victory is a distinctly dangerous proposition.