Six months into the conflict, what exactly does Russia hope to achieve in Ukraine? by Dmitry Trenin Putin’s latest comments reveal that Moscow’s thinking has shifted and compromise is no longer on the agenda. Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin referred to Ukraine as an “anti-Russian enclave” which has to be removed. He also said that the Russian soldiers taking part in the military operation there were fighting for their “own country.” These statements carry important implications. Over the last six-plus months, the mantra of the Russian officialdom has been that all aims of the offensive will be reached. On purpose, however, the specific objectives, such as how far Moscow’s forces plan move into Ukraine, have never been spelled out. This cannot but raise speculation about what the Kremlin is actually hoping to achieve. The only person who can authoritatively answer that question, however, is the President, and second-guessing him makes no sense. Yet, two thi