Putin's ruthless tactics to 'throw more people in' his meat grinder

Ukraine may eventually be forced to accept a negotiated end to the bloody conflict with Russia as its reserves of soldiers dwindle – while the enemy retains a 'capacity to throw more people in', a top historian has warned.

Journalist Jonathan Dimbleby (pictured), who has spent three years researching a book about Russia's success in repelling the Nazis in 1944, told how he believes the country's 'capacity to throw more people in' to a war may eventually force Ukraine to the negotiating table. 

Mr Dimbleby said: 'I think Ukrainians face a very grave consequence as a result of the Russian capacity to throw more people in. The West will carry on (supporting Kyiv ) as long as they want to throw resources in support (but) the Ukrainians will have the major problem of reducing resources in terms of men to fight at the front.'

Giving a talk about his new book, Endgame 1944: How Stalin Won The War, Mr Dimbleby said journalists interviewing young people in Ukraine have found that while they 'hated the Russians for what they have done', they were 'unwilling' to go and fight 'to be killed on the front line in a war that looks unwinnable'.

'I personally believe there will have to be some sort of armistice where both sides claim partial victory', added Mr Dimbleby, speaking at the Buxton Literary Festival, in Derbyshire.

He said it would mean 'an arresting of the killing (and) a possibility of emerging from that into something rather healthier and less dangerous'. 

Mr Dimbleby said Russia showed 'massive hubris and military incompetence' when it went into the war two years ago but had 'learned a lot since' and seemed 'prepared to stick it out'.

Although he believes Vladimir Putin is 'as merciless as Stalin in his efforts to wage war for as long as it takes', Mr Dimbleby added he does not believe the Ukraine conflict will escalate to the point 'tactical nuclear weapons' are used – despite Russian President's threats - because both sides are 'terrified of the consequences'.

He said Putin has been able to exploit Russian national pride, feelings against the extension of NATO and hatred of Nazis – using the example of how certain groups in Ukraine admire Stepan Bandera, a supporter of Hitler – to whip up public sentiment in favour of his 'illegal' war.

Mr Dimbleby said the factors were 'very important in understanding how it is that he has been able to do this and there's so little dissent.'

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