Putin fears defeat could cost him his safety, prompting potential Kremlin escalation
The Economist reports that Vladimir Putin fears ending the Ukraine war without full Donbas victory could jeopardize his safety, with sources saying he warned, “They will hang me.” The piece notes rising discontent among ordinary Russians and a grim mood among the political elite, suggesting the regime may escalate—via hybrid warfare and strikes against Ukraine’s allies and energy infrastructure—though a direct NATO clash remains unlikely according to Western intelligence.
