A catastrophic mistake that will turn Russia years later. This is how the circle closest to Russian President Vladimir Putin considers the war that started on February 24 in Ukraine, writes "Bloomberg" based on Russian sources.
"There is no possibility that Putin will change the decision," according to sources.
"Bloomberg", referring to some sources, writes that the Russian president may also use nuclear weapons, citing a dozen of his sources on condition of anonymity, and according to which he fears the US secret services.
In any case, there is growing awareness that the continuation of the war will cause years of isolation for Russia and economic stagnation, while jeopardizing its security as well as its global impact.
Within the Kremlin they were also surprised by the speed with which the US and the international community reacted to Russian military aggression against Ukraine, as well as the decision to impose sanctions that have frozen half of the $ 640 billion in reserves.
Added to this are large companies which after decades of investment have decided overnight to stop their activity in Russia.
"Bloomberg" also writes that senior Russian officials have tried to explain to Putin that the economic impact of sanctions will be devastating, erasing two decades of growth and higher living standards.
Therefore, sources say that according to Putin, the West had left him no choice but to go to war and that the Russian economy would adjust.
However, according to Bloomberg, despite "dissident" officials in the Kremlin, Putin has the support of the majority of the Russian elite, but also of the majority of Russians who believe that a conflict between the values of Russia and the West is inevitable.
And for this reason, writes Bloomberg, Putin insists that the decision to invade Ukraine was the right one.
"The Russian president says he is confident that people are with him and that he is willing to make sacrifices for years," they said.
But almost eight weeks after ordering the invasion of Ukraine, Bloomberg continues, Putin is losing more and more troops, the image of his homeland is being tarnished while killing civilians, and Russia is being "isolated" from the international community.
The Ukrainians are resisting vigorously, defending any measure of their territory and not surrendering their weapons, something that has apparently not been taken into account by the "tsar" of Russia.