A fresh wave of mobilization in Russia could be a way to escalate the war against Ukraine.
War of the Russian Federation against Ukraine / © TSN
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy believes that the parliamentary elections in Russia, scheduled for September, could become a starting point for a new escalation of the war by the Kremlin.
During a conversation with journalists on Wednesday, July 15, the head of state suggested that after the elections, Russian President Vladimir Putin might resort to increased mobilization.
According to Zelenskyy, the election outcome itself will not affect the Kremlin’s future actions, as he believes it will be predetermined. At the same time, the president noted that in certain regions of the Russian Federation and in the temporarily occupied territories, more and more people are advocating for an end to the war due to its direct consequences.
“The election results will in no way affect this escalation, because the result will be known before the elections. But the fact that this is a starting line, after which Putin may take some escalatory steps – undoubtedly,” Zelenskyy stated.
The president suggested that one of these steps could be a new wave of mobilization in Russia.
“We understand that this could be an intensified mobilization. He will not be able to increase contract signing because large sums of money need to be paid. Therefore, he may resort to increasing mobilization, where it will not be necessary to sign such contracts. We are thinking about this; we need to prepare for such steps,” emphasized the head of state.
At the same time, Zelenskyy warned that the Kremlin might resort to other forms of escalation, including attempts to demonstrate military successes or increase pressure on other states.
“There are other escalation possibilities that Putin has. Anything that can be demonstrated and then sold as an advantage on the battlefield or a victory somewhere. Where this might happen, which country he might pressure – I cannot say. We must prepare for any challenges,” the president stressed.
At the same time, he noted that Ukraine is continuing its own operations, which, according to him, could prompt the Kremlin to negotiate.
Zelenskyy also reported that he had already shared with the leadership of the European Union and the President of the United States his vision of steps that could accelerate Russia’s readiness for the negotiation process.
As a reminder, despite the authoritarian nature of the Russian regime, Putin has so far avoided announcing a new wave of mobilization due to fears of an unpredictable societal reaction.
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