“Long gone are the contracts and the big payouts. That’s all changed.”

Putin is deflecting attention from many of his problems at home, as Russia’s horrendous losses will force its leader to order a mass mobilisation, says journalist and former British Army soldier Shaun Pinner.

Shaun's event ‘An evening with Brits sighting for Ukraine’ will be held on 21/11/26 at 7 Bagleys Lane, London, SW6 2QA at 1700GMT.

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“It's that which might give this sort of leverage in bringing Putin to negotiations.”

As Ukraine’s deep battle continues to be successful with their attacks on oil refineries the societal and political pressures inside of Russia could bring Putin to the negotiation table, says former Major General Chip Chapman.

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“Unless we get a quick settlement out of these talks, which I don’t think will happen, bring on 2027 because you have a changed domestic situation in the United States, and if Ukraine can survive the winter, it’s then even more pressure on the Russians.”

The US midterm results suggest that Trump’s ties to Putin will weaken, meaning that Ukraine could have a more successful 2027, says Professor Scott Lucas.

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“If you go from a force of 200,000 to 350,000 and you’re being attacked in the rear, you can’t sustain it.”

Putin’s forces face a “major reorganisation” as Ukraine inflicts more casualties than the Russians can replace, says Robert Fox, defence editor at the Standard.

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“I think forensics could indicate where this has come from.”

Bomb threats made against European flights could have “the fingerprints of Russia all over them”, says Michael Bociurkiw, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council and the founder of the World Briefing report on Substack.

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“He thought the whole system would fold over and collapse much quicker … the fight put up by the stoic regiments and special forces decimated the Russians.”

Putin’s intelligence failed as Ukrainian forces’ “uncrewed revolution” enabled them to put up a stronger fight than he expected during his “special military operation”, says Al Carns, a former Armed Forces minister and Labour MP who fought in Afghanistan.

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