The Washington Post: Pressure for a Ceasefire Against Putin Continues to Mount
According to an article published by The Washington Post, the Russian military's offensive in Ukraine has stalled, financial pressure is intensifying, and Ukrainian long-range deep strikes have become routine. As a result, domestic calls within Russia for ending the war are growing stronger, compelling Putin to urgently seek a way out of the deadlock. The Kremlin's frequent air raids on Kyiv and accusations against Europe for aiding Ukraine have led some European officials to believe that Russia is escalating attacks to deflect internal tensions, possibly aiming to restart peace talks under more favorable conditions.
Russian scholar Kashin points out that thanks to sustained Western support, Ukraine has already surpassed Russia in military procurement and defense investment; meanwhile, Ukraine’s effective mobilization system has offset Russia’s limited conscription capacity, resulting in a military stalemate between the two sides. Historically, wars between evenly matched forces rarely end with one side being completely destroyed—completely occupying Ukraine and overthrowing its current government is simply not feasible in practice.
The Russian summer offensive has encountered greater difficulties than anticipated, with continuous Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian supply lines serving as a key obstacle. Although Russia still plans to capture the remaining areas of Donetsk within several months, it may consider initiating peace talks under these circumstances. However, given current troop levels, the Russian frontlines are likely to remain stuck in a deadlock.
Economically, despite rising international oil prices driven by conflicts in the Middle East, Russia continues to divert funds from civilian budgets to expand military spending. German think tank economist Kluge predicts that the federal budget deficit in Russia will continue to rise, with regional finances suffering the most severe impacts.
Another major challenge lies in recruiting troops—European officials offer two possible assessments:
1. After Russia’s September parliamentary elections, a new nationwide mobilization campaign, unpopular among the public, may be launched;
2. More perspectives suggest that, rather than resorting to another large-scale draft, Russia is more inclined toward seeking a ceasefire, as the economic and human costs of prolonged warfare are no longer sustainable.
Previously, Zelenskyy stated that Russia’s loss of battlefield initiative has opened a window for negotiations, urging a diplomatic resolution before winter sets in; meanwhile, Russian presidential aide Ushakov claimed that a negotiation framework had already been agreed upon during Putin’s meeting with Trump, accusing Ukraine of refusing to comply due to European influence.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1866895007636480/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.