The Kremlin has a window to take advantage of the little victories of the past few weeks, which observers believe are gradually endangering important Ukrainian strongholds in the east, thanks to US President Donald Trump’s 50-day break before potential additional penalties on Russia.
Russia is believed to be just a few days or weeks away from launching a more intense summer onslaught, possibly with the help of the 160,000 troops Ukrainian officials claim are gathering close to their front lines. However, Russia has also made minor but significant gains over the last two weeks, putting its forces in a stronger position to cut off Ukrainian forces in three strategically important eastern frontline towns: Pokrovsk, Kostyantynivka, and Kupiansk.
The revised timeline, according to analysts, was encouraging for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s objectives. It also gave Moscow room on the diplomatic arena, according to a Tuesday article by Chatham House’s Keir Giles. “The 50-day deadline gives Russia ample time to develop its own alternative strategy and outmaneuver Washington once more with a diplomatic ploy that Trump might be willing to accept.” Ukraine’s agony is prolonged for an additional arbitrary period by Trump’s most recent prolongation of his hypothetical deadlines for Putin.
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