Vladimir Putin speaks at the Valdai Discussion Club, Moscow, Russia, October 1, 2026
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EA’s Cormac Smith joined Azerbaijan’s ANewz on Friday to assess Vladimir Putin’s speech to the Valdai Discussion Club and what it indicates about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Asked if he was surprised by anything in the address, Cormac replies:
No, it’s just more of the same. After 4 1/2 years, Putin makes it clear that his war aims are still the maximum.
He has turned down 9 or 10 offers from [Ukraine President Volodymyr] Zelensky for an unconditional ceasefire on both sides to allow negotiations to continue. He has also turned down the partial ceasefire to stop missile strikes on each other’s infrastructure.
The only condition that Putin has is that Ukraine capitulate.
Cormac also takes apart Putin’s statements about the Russian economy, assessing the true extent of damage from sanctions and Ukraine’s counter-attacks.
And, as Russia tries to break Ukrainians with airstrikes, Cormac asserts, “We are simply not doing enough to allow Ukraine to force Putin to the table.”
