Kremlin dissent and security fears may push Putin to negotiate
Vladimir Putin may have enemies within the Kremlin akin to Prigozhin, suggests former British armoured forces commander Colonel Hamish de Bretton-Gordon. He believes that the fear of a potential conspiracy in the Kremlin, which could threaten Putin’s leadership, might push the Russian leader to consider negotiations with Ukraine.
What do you need to know?
- Dissatisfaction in the Kremlin: British military officer Hamish de Bretton-Gordon points to the possibility of Putin having adversaries in the Kremlin similar to Yevgeny Prigozhin.
- Obsession with security: Putin has dismissed several high-ranking generals and avoided meeting with the President of Ukraine in Istanbul due to fear of arrest by the SBU.
- Increasing isolation: The discontent among Kremlin politicians arises from Russia's international isolation and the economic situation, which could lead to attempts to seize power from Putin.
Can dissatisfaction in the Kremlin force Putin into negotiations?
Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, in an interview with Ukrainian Channel 24, addressed findings by "The Washington Post," which suggest that internal dissatisfaction is rising in Russia, reminiscent of 2023 when the Wagner group rebellion occurred. The former British armoured forces commander acknowledged that this is very likely.
The British military officer suggested that within Moscow—and even inside the Kremlin—there are figures reminiscent of Prigozhin who are seriously alarmed by the current developments and likely making plans to take control of power.
What are Putin's security concerns?
The colonel noted that Vladimir Putin has recently dismissed several high-ranking generals. Prigozhin's plane exploded en route to Moscow. Putin is fixated on his security, with his protection team operating under strict controls.
He explains that Putin refrained from meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Istanbul due to security concerns. Hamish de Bretton-Gordon highlighted that Putin, who has been indicted by the International Criminal Court as an international criminal, faced concerns about the possibility of being removed or even detained by secret service agents.
Will Russia's international isolation impact Putin's power?
According to the British military officer, there are Kremlin politicians eager to seize power from Putin. Their dissatisfaction originates from Russia's global isolation and the deteriorating economy, worsened by declining oil prices.
Hamish de Bretton-Gordon believes that with the present level of defence spending and existing oil prices, Russia is likely to run out of financial resources in the near future. In his view, this could lead either to Putin being forced to negotiate a ceasefire or to a change in leadership within Russia.
