Kremlin elite 'extremely unhappy and plotting to oust Putin' claims insider

🧨 Kremlin Elites Turn on Putin Over Rejected Trump Peace Plan: “Why Won’t He Take the Deal?”

Cracks are emerging within Vladimir Putin’s inner circle as frustration grows over his refusal to accept Donald Trump’s Ukraine peace plan. According to Ilya Ponomarev, a prominent Russian opposition figure with insider ties to elite circles, many of Russia’s wealthiest and most powerful backers view Trump’s proposal as “very generous” and are increasingly baffled by Putin’s unwillingness to end the war.

“Russian elites are extremely unhappy because Putin is not taking Trump’s offer,” Ponomarev told the Express in an exclusive interview. “They don’t understand why he’s rejecting it.”

📜 What Did Trump Offer Putin?

Earlier this year, the White House unveiled a controversial and unusually conciliatory peace proposal, aimed at halting the war in Ukraine. Key features of Trump’s plan include:

• Official U.S. recognition of Crimea as Russian territory
• De facto acceptance of Russia’s military control over Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia
• A formal U.S. commitment to block Ukraine from joining NATO
• Lifting sanctions imposed on Russia since 2014
• A roadmap for increased economic cooperation, particularly in energy and industrial sectors

The deal, while heavily criticized in Ukraine and across much of Europe, has been quietly praised by segments of the Russian elite—many of whom are eager to see the war end and their business interests restored.

📉 Elites Fear Economic Collapse, Despite Data

Ponomarev, a former Russian MP turned opposition exile, said the discontent among top Russian figures was especially clear during the St. Petersburg Economic Forum, a flagship event once used to project confidence and global power.

“They’re telling Putin the Russian economy is on the brink of recession,” Ponomarev said. “I don’t think that’s true — and most people in Russia don’t think it’s true — but they’re saying it anyway to pressure Putin to take the deal.”

These warnings come even as Russia’s Central Bank governor, Elvira Nabiullina, and other key officials voice private concerns over prolonged sanctions, capital flight, and falling foreign investment.

Behind the scenes, Ponomarev claims, many elites are no longer simply lobbying for an end to the war — they’re openly questioning Putin’s judgement.

⚔️ Kremlin Crackdown: Loyalty or Purge?

While elite dissatisfaction simmers, the Kremlin has responded not with reforms — but with repression. According to Bloomberg, the Putin regime has already reappropriated more than $49.5 billion in private assets, targeting once-trusted oligarchs and former allies who have fallen out of favor.

One dramatic example is Konstantin Strukov, a gold tycoon and longtime Putin supporter, who was barred from leaving the country earlier this week. Strukov now faces legal threats that could strip him of his business empire.

This ongoing campaign has all the markings of a “mini purge” within the Russian elite — raising fears of deeper instability.

🧠 Could Elite Anger Lead to a Coup?

When asked whether growing unrest among elites could trigger an attempt to remove Putin from power, Ponomarev was cautious — but didn’t rule it out.

“I think, after a while, it may evolve in that direction,” he said.

“But right now, there are still more winners than losers in the system.”

He explained that the regime’s inner workings resemble a game of survival and reward. Those who lose influence may have their assets seized — but the spoils are simply passed to others who remain loyal.

“It’s a redistribution of property,” Ponomarev explained.

“Putin is taking from those out of favor and giving to those who stay in line. That’s why loyalty hasn’t completely collapsed — yet.”

But as the war drags on, and more elites feel squeezed, sidelined, or sacrificed, the balance may begin to shift.

🧭 What’s Next?

For now, Putin continues to escalate attacks in Ukraine, brushing off both international pressure and internal unrest. But the rejection of Trump’s “generous” peace deal may mark a turning point in elite sentiment — especially if Western sanctions tighten and Russia’s economy begins to crack under the weight of war.

Behind palace walls, patience may be running out.

Whether that turns into open defiance is a question of when, not if.