As the US-Israel war with Iran continues to capture the world's focus, other crises, including Russia's war in Ukraine, are receiving less attention. Now Kyiv, fearing it will soon be receiving fewer US weapons, is digging in for a years-long protracted war while Russia profits from skyrocketing oil and gas prices. That's one side of the proverbial coin.
On the other side, there is a de facto deadlock along the front lines. Neither side has been able to achieve any substantive gain in territory, and Ukraine is stepping up attacks on oil export infrastructure deep in Russian territory. Meanwhile, approval ratings for Russian President Vladimir Putin are allegedly plummeting amid increasing mobile internet blackouts.
With Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine entering its fifth year, Western observers and military analysts believe the war might soon be over. Speaking with DW at the Kyiv Security Forum in April, they said the US mid-term elections could play a decisive role in ending it.
Will Putin order another mobilization?
Considering the lack of movement along the front line, international experts have long been speculating whether Putin might announce another mobilization like he ordered in late 2022. Ukrainian military experts, including those Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently cited, say they wouldn't rule it out.Evelyn Farkas, a foreign policy expert and former Pentagon appointee at the McCain Institute of the Arizona State University, says she does not believe Russia will attempt another mass call-up. As she sees it, the current difficulties Russia's economy is facing are what's stopping it.Putin faces falling popularity as Russian economy slowsTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
