Putin rejects Ukraine compromises as ISW warns of Russia's distorted front-line view

Russian President Vladimir Putin is unwilling to make significant compromises to end the war against Ukraine, according to a new analysis by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), which says the Kremlin continues to rely on military achievements based on a distorted assessment of the front-line situation. The ISW reports that Moscow maintains its maximalist demands first voiced in June 2024, including the full withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from four regions, Ukraine's demilitarization and denazification, and its refusal to join NATO. Analysts believe the Kremlin overestimates Russian army successes and underestimates Ukraine's capabilities, with distorted information from military commanders reinforcing Putin's conviction that no concessions are needed. The ISW notes that Russian troops have failed to capture Konstantinovka after 11 months of fighting, and at current August advance rates of 2.91 square kilometers per day, they would not take the remaining 19% of Donetsk Oblast until October 2032. Putin has set at least 15 deadlines for capturing the region, none of which have been met.