By Peter McLaren-Kennedy • 09 December 2022 • 11:25Volodymyr Zelesnky Inauguration - Credit Sergei Chuzavkov shutterstockThe report published by the British Royal Defence Research Institute (RUSI) on Friday, December 9 suggests that the Kremlin’s plans were take control of Ukraine and in time to announce its annexation.The belief is that based on their intelligence and local opinion polls, Ukrainians were “politically apathetic” and prone to “distrust of its leaders.” What they didn’t expect is the invasion to galvanise the country behind President Volodymyr Zelensky.That would leave the country unable to defend itself allowing Russia to seize Ukraine through amphibious landings.According to the report: “The Ukrainian armed forces were able to compete against their adversaries not because they had superior equipment in the initial phases of the war, but because they knew how to adapt.”Conversely they say Russian forces have been slow to adapt and had fixated on ground offensives.By signing up, you will create a Euro Weekly News account if you don’t already have one."