Mon Nov 25 15:12:49 UTC 2024: ## Russia’s Peace Deal Aims: Analyst Predicts Land Grabs and Regime Legitimacy
**MOSCOW** – A leading Russian defense analyst has shed light on Moscow’s potential goals in any negotiated peace settlement to the ongoing Ukraine war. Pavel Felgenhauer, based in Moscow, suggests Russia seeks not just a cessation of hostilities but significant territorial gains and a bolstering of its international standing. While specifics remain unclear, Felgenhauer’s analysis hints at Russia aiming to consolidate control over occupied regions in eastern and southern Ukraine, presenting this as a fait accompli achieved through diplomacy. This, he suggests, is crucial for Russia to portray the conflict as a successful endeavor, thereby reinforcing President Putin’s authority and legitimizing his regime both domestically and internationally. The analyst’s comments offer insight into the potential complexities of any future peace negotiations, suggesting that a simple end to fighting may not be the ultimate Russian objective.
First Piper 