Manoj Joshi, one of India’s most highly regarded strategic thinkers, says “Putin has gambled and lost” in Ukraine, adding that Russia has suffered “a pretty severe setback”. Joshi, a distinguished fellow of the Observer Research Foundation and an author of highly regarded books on the India-China Border and Kashmir, says, “Russia’s Plan A, B, C, D have failed and now Russia has no answers”.In a 33-minute interview with Karan Thapar for The Wire, Joshi began by speaking specifically about recent military victories by the Ukrainian army which has forced Russia to retreat from Lyman, a significant military hub in Donetsk, whilst a Ukrainian tank offensive has advanced dozens of kilometres along the Dnipro river in Kherson. He said: “The Russian military machine has simply come apart.” Speaking about the reverse in Lyman, Joshi said: “Russia melted away in Lyman … they didn’t stand and fight … Russia doesn’t seem to have any answers.”In contrast, Joshi said the following about Ukraine: “Ukraine has discovered its nationhood … its fighting and winning … (and showing) a high level of military art.”Speaking about India’s response to recent developments in Ukraine, Joshi said India should have strongly condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin’s threat to use nuclear weapons. However, Joshi was more understanding of India’s decision to abstain at the United Nations Security Council over voting concerning Russia’s referenda and annexation of Ukrainian territory.The interview contains a significant discussion over Prime Minister Modi’s advice to Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky that “there can be no military solution”. Joshi is asked when this is said to the party that has been invaded, is it not tantamount to asking Zelensky to accept, as fait accompli, the loss of territory that Russia has captured? Or does Modi believe that Putin, through negotiations, will give up the Ukrainian territory he has seized by invasion? And was this an insensitive thing to say to Zelensky, particularly at a time when the Ukrainians are pushing the Russians back and regaining some of the territory they earlier lost? As the BBC reports, 226 days into the war, Russia has less territory than it had in the first week of the war.The interview discusses several other issues including Putin’s recent response to the situation in Ukraine i.e. mobilisation, annexation and the threat to use tactical nuclear weapons.In the interview, Joshi gives his assessment of how the Russian military has performed in Ukraine, in terms of its leadership, its strategy and the effectiveness of its weaponry.Joshi says that “NATO is sitting pretty cool”. It’s stronger and more cohesive than it was before February.He speculates how NATO will respond if Russia uses tactical weapons. He believes it will launch a massive non-nuclear war on the Russian military within Ukraine. He adds if Russia cannot defeat Ukraine it will not be able to stand up to this.Finally, the interview discusses the change in public opinion within Russia where the mobilisation is not popular and Russian TV hosts are now acknowledging setbacks and searching for scapegoats. Kazakhstan alone has reported that 200,000 Russians may have crossed the border escaping mobilisation and large numbers have also escaped to Finland and some to the Baltic countries. Joshi says all of this must be very worrying for President Putin.These are some of the highlights of Karan Thapar’s interview with Manoj Joshi for The Wire. Watch the full video for a complete understanding of the Russia-Ukraine situation, India’s response to the crisis and the threat of nuclear weapons being used.