{
  "id": 14705061,
  "title": "Fear and Rumors in the Kremlin",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/fear-and-rumors-in-the-kremlin-14705061",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-15T13:26:12.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Riddle Russia - Politics",
    "slug": "riddle-russia-politics",
    "url": "https://ridl.io/fear-and-rumors-in-the-kremlin/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The ongoing negotiations between the Kremlin and Donald Trump's team remain largely shrouded in mystery. It is uncertain what terms Vladimir Putin might agree to for a peace agreement with Ukraine or if he is even willing to negotiate in the foreseeable future. Neither the American proposals nor any tangible outcomes of the talks have been made public. Steve Witkoff, a key figure in these discussions, has been traveling to Moscow regularly for over a year, and a year has elapsed since the Putin-Trump summit in Anchorage, yet no visible progress has been achieved.\n\nThe talks have been marred by Trump's team's tendency to overstate its accomplishments, while the Kremlin's lack of transparency only fuels speculation and rumors. A recent article in The Economist, based on sources within ruling circles, suggests that Putin is intent on escalating the war in Ukraine. This aligns with his own statements and those of his representatives regarding the attainment of \"the goals of the special military operation on the battlefield,\" as well as the escalation of strikes on Ukraine. A source close to Putin reportedly expressed fear that the population and elites would hold him accountable, stating that they would \"simply kill him.\" This claim prompted various interpretations, ranging from allegations of elite discontent and readiness to remove Putin to claims that the war reflects societal sentiment.\n\nInterestingly, the credibility of the information itself was not questioned. While there may be concerns about the existence of sources within the Russian ruling circles and the reliability of those sources, it is unlikely that journalists at The Economist or Reuters would attribute such personal statements to someone who lacks direct contact with the president. The possibility that Kremlin sources might communicate with journalists through secure messaging apps or meet them in other countries to avoid surveillance cannot be ruled out. Moreover, officials, businessmen, or political technologists could receive authorization from the leadership to convey specific messages to Western media and experts.\n\nAn analysis of the claims that Putin fears the population and elites ready to continue the war is warranted. There is no evidence to suggest that the majority of Russians or members of the elite share this determination. While there are influential individuals loyal to Putin, if the war ended, they could find alternative sources of income within the Russian economy. The timing of The Economist and Reuters publications suggests that sources close to Putin began linking his fears to the negotiations with Trump and his team. Despite the lack of progress in talks, Putin appears resistant to ending the war, which could be perceived as irrational by Trump. Therefore, it is possible that his entourage employs external constraints, such as fears of the elites and the population, as a means to explain Putin's intransigence to the American president. This narrative could help maintain the illusion of willingness to negotiate on the American side while safeguarding Kirill Dmitriev's role as the principal intermediary between the Kremlin and the White House. Such rumors might also serve to prolong the war and temper Trump's expectations.",
  "summary": "Andrei Pertsev on whether it makes sense to listen to insider information from Russia’s elite",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Riddle Russia",
        "title": "Fear and Rumors in the Kremlin",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/fear-and-rumors-in-the-kremlin",
        "published": "2026-10-15T13:26:12.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}