JAKARTA - Russian President Vladimir Putin was misled by advisers who were too scared to tell him how bad the war in Ukraine was and how damaging Western sanctions were, White House and European officials said Wednesday.
It started on February 24, the Russian invasion was largely stifled and halted on various fronts by fierce resistance from Ukrainian troops, who later managed to recapture swathes of territory although many civilians were still trapped in the towns under siege by Moscow.
Russia's February 24 invasion of its southern neighbor has been halted on many fronts by fierce resistance from Ukrainian forces who have retaken territory even as civilians are trapped in besieged cities.
"We have information that (President) Putin feels misled by the Russian military, which has resulted in ongoing tensions between (President) Putin and his military leadership," Kate Bedingfield, the White House communications director, told reporters during a news conference.
"We believe that (President) Putin received 'wrong' information from his advisers about how badly the Russian military is performing and how the Russian economy is being crippled by sanctions, because his senior advisers are too afraid to tell the truth," Bedingfield said.
The US is submitting this information now to show "this has been a strategic mistake for Russia," she said.
The Kremlin did not immediately comment on the statement after the end of the working day in Moscow, while the Russian Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Washington's decision to share its intelligence more openly reflects a strategy that had been in place since before the war began. In this regard, it could also complicate Putin's calculations, a US official said.
"This is potentially useful. Does it sow dissension in the ranks? It could make Putin reconsider who he can trust," the official said.
Separately, a senior European diplomat said the US assessment was in line with European thinking.
"Putin thinks things are going better than before. That's the problem if the people around you are 'yes men', or just sitting with them at the end of a very long table," the diplomat said.
Russian conscripts were told they were taking part in military exercises but had to sign documents before the invasion that extended their duties, two European diplomats said.
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"They were misled, poorly trained, and then arrived to find old Ukrainian women who looked like their grandmothers, shouting at them to go home," added one of the diplomats.
There is no indication at this time that the situation could encourage an uprising among the Russian military. However, the situation is "unpredictable" and Western powers "would hope that displeased people would speak up," the senior European diplomat said.
To note, military analysts say Russia has reframed its war goals in Ukraine in a way that could make it easier for Putin to claim a face-saving victory, despite a woeful campaign in which his troops have suffered humiliating setbacks.
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