Russia could further escalate its war in Ukraine after September’s parliamentary elections, Czech President Petr Pavel warned.
Pavel’s warning comes as Ukraine continues to target Russia’s oil and energy infrastructure, in addition to targeting Russian supply lines, which have caused newfound challenges for their forces.
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“I believe that the window is there for us to keep pushing and giving Russia a clear message that we are willing to start negotiations,” Pavel, who was previously the head of the NATO military committee, told the Telegraph. “Russia will have parliamentary elections in September. President Putin will hardly declare mobilization before, but once the elections are over, then the window will shrink.”
The last time Russian President Vladimir Putin implemented a mobilization effort, it was very unpopular and led many military-aged men to flee the country to avoid getting drafted. In Pavel’s thinking, Putin is not likely to order another mobilization effort until after the September elections, scheduled for Sept. 20.
“Russia has a lot of internal problems and challenges at this point,” the Czech leader said. “The Russian public is turning increasingly against the war. President Putin will have difficulties keeping calm at home, and if this pressure continues, if Ukraine continues to be capable and successful in hitting targets deep in Russian territory, it will create conditions where Russia will be more inclined to negotiate.”
So, in his thinking, there’s a sense of urgency to “give Ukraine what they need to be successful in their defense and at the same time to exert all diplomatic skills to convince Russia that they have no other choice than to negotiate.”
President Donald Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey.
“We’ve actually developed a good relationship. It’s hard to believe, right? From the Oval Office to now, I think we’ve developed a very good relationship,” Trump said, referencing last year’s infamous blow-up between them at the White House. He also said a resolution to the war is “closer than people realize.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Reuters, “Russia is ready for a peaceful resolution but has enough capability to act independently and continue the special military operation.”
TRUMP’S DECISION TO GIVE PATRIOT MISSILE LICENSE TO UKRAINE A LONG-TERM PLAN, NOT AN IMMEDIATE FIX
Trump also announced that the U.S. would grant Ukraine a license to begin producing its own Patriot missile interceptors, which Zelensky had previously requested. The Ukrainians rely on the Patriot missile defense system to intercept ballistic missiles, but each interceptor costs a couple of million dollars, and Western countries do not have a ton to provide. The deal is a long-term solution that does not provide immediate relief for Ukraine, which faces frequent aerial barrages that include ballistic missiles.
Last month, Zelensky published an open letter addressed to Putin calling for face-to-face negotiations and a comprehensive ceasefire.
