Putin’s denial of any peaceful negotiations with Ukraine signals his confidence in Russia’s victory through creeping occupation, exhaustion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and cessation of Western aid, reports the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). The report analyzes statements made by Vladimir Putin during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit on Thursday, July 4th. Specifically, Putin rejected Russia’s participation in any meaningful ceasefire negotiations. Instead, he demanded Ukraine’s irreversible demilitarization as a precondition for any ceasefire agreement. Thus, Putin…