As the Russia-Ukraine war enters its 16th month, President Vladimir V. Putin is facing setbacks and disunity in his forces. Despite stretched resources and disorganized defenses, Putin’s resolve augurs a willingness to prosecute a long war. The dysfunction, infighting and tension could be misread as a signal that Putin will face political constraints in prosecuting the war, when he may be more likely to be limited by economic challenges, military-industrial capacity and battlefield mismanagement. Western support for Ukraine is starting to help on the battlefield, another challenge for Moscow. As the war continues, Putin remains convinced that he can outlast both Ukraine and the West.
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