Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.
New York Times: U.S. intelligence suggests that Putin’s advisers misinformed him on Ukraine.
WASHINGTON — President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia has been misinformed by his advisers about the Russian military’s struggles in Ukraine, according to declassified U.S. intelligence.
The intelligence, according to multiple U.S. officials, shows what appears to be growing tension between Mr. Putin and the Ministry of Defense, including with the Russian defense minister, Sergei Shoigu, who was once among the most trusted members of the Kremlin’s inner circle.
Speaking in Algiers, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken acknowledged Mr. Putin had been given less than truthful information from his advisers. “With regard to President Putin, look, what I can tell you is this, and I said this before, one of the Achilles' heels of autocracies is that you don’t have people in those systems who speak truth to power or who have the ability to speak truth to power,” Mr. Blinken said. “And I think that is something that we’re seeing in Russia.”
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Update #1: White House: Intel shows Putin misled by advisers on Ukraine (AP)
Update #2: White House Cites Intel Claiming Putin Being "Misled" By His Own Generals On War's Progress (Zero Hedge)
WNU Editor: Is there growing tensions between President Putin and the Ministry of Defense? I am sure there are some tensions as the war grinds on, but Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu is still the Defense Minister, and he serves at the pleasure of the Russian President.