An expert has suggested that Vladimir Putin might be gearing up for a new invasion while the conflict in Ukraine persists.
Russia’s incursion into Ukraine began in February 2022. Despite efforts by global leaders like President Donald Trump to ease tensions through ceasefire discussions, the conflict appears to be ongoing without a resolution.
Trump has expressed his dissatisfaction with Vladimir Putin and has cautioned that Russia could encounter additional sanctions if it fails to make progress toward peace in Ukraine.
The President initially issued a 50-day ultimatum for Putin to engage in negotiations. However, during a joint announcement with British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer on Monday (July 28), Trump indicated the timeline has been revised to ’10 or 12′ days from now, according to BBC News.
One specialist believes, however, that Putin is not aiming for a ceasefire in Ukraine but is instead eyeing another European nation.
Rebekah Koffler, a US intelligence expert, stated in The Telegraph: “As a military intelligence analyst specialising in Putin’s thinking and Russian military strategy, I agree with Rutte’s assessment about Russia’s readiness for another offensive military campaign in just a few years.
“I’m less convinced that a NATO country is likely to be the Kremlin’s next target, unless the alliance directly intervenes in Ukraine by deploying troops onto the battlefield.
“Nevertheless, what NATO does or doesn’t do in the next few years could be highly significant in determining whether Putin decides to attack another post-Soviet state – such as Moldova.”
On Monday, speaking outside his hotel in Turnberry, Scotland, Trump expressed his disappointment with Putin, noting the continued missile attacks by Russia.
Standing alongside Prime Minister Starmer, Trump remarked: “We thought we had it settled numerous times, and then President Putin goes out and starts launching rockets into some city like Kyiv and kills a lot of people in a nursing home or whatever.
“You have bodies lying all over the street, and I say that’s not the way to do it. So we’ll see what happens with that.”
Meanwhile, the conflict continues in Ukraine, with Russian drone and missile assaults impacting the north-eastern Sumy region on Sunday (July 27), resulting in injuries to four individuals.
Russian officials assert they have intercepted 50 Ukrainian drones, with one person killed and three others injured near St Petersburg.
Trump and Starmer are anticipated to discuss the ongoing conflict and the situation in Gaza during an upcoming meeting on Monday.