ISW: Russians want to freeze the front line in Ukraine. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine warns the world

Russian military commanders want to freeze the war in Ukraine. There are more and more voices in Russia supporting this course of events. The Russians will use every break in the fighting to replenish their troops with fresh forces, warns the head of the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dmytro Kuleba.

In the latest report by the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW), analysts say that Russia may request a war freeze or a temporary suspension of hostilities to replace tired Russian servicemen with rested contract soldiers.

Russian forces will likely use any shorter or longer break to replace troops and refresh their forces at the front in order to resume military operations. The Russians will try to get further west, deep into Ukraine
– we read in the ISW report.

Russian commander: we need a break to launch a better offensive

There are more and more voices in Russia calling for freezing the front line in Ukraine. A former employee of the Ukrainian Security Service, Oleksandr Khodakovsky, who defected to the enemy and headed the occupation battalion "Vostok", is another Russian commander who spoke in favor of the Russian military freezing the front line. He explained that there was a need for a break, after which the Russians "with new forces" could launch another offensive. Chodakowski also noted that Russian forces must take into account the effective defense and resistance of the Ukrainians.

Analysts from ISW, citing the propagandist Igor Girkin currently imprisoned in Russia, write that the Russians will continue the strategic defense of the occupied towns in order to freeze the front lines before the presidential elections in Russia in March 2024.

Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Russia will increase its military potential and then its target will not only be Ukraine

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba appealed to the world not to believe in Russian demands to suspend the war and not to allow a freeze of military activities that will give Russia time to rebuild its exhausted troops. He spoke about this at the Zentrum Liberale Moderne event on Thursday, October 12. Minister Kuleba also added that international aid is of great importance for Ukraine and cannot be suspended.

Earlier, Volodymyr Zelensky said that if the world allows Russia to take a break and Ukraine does not increase the pressure, Russia will regenerate its war potential by 2028 and be prepared for another wave of aggression. Quoting this statement, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine noted that the level of hatred towards other EU countries is increasing in Russia.

Russia's ultranationalist, fascist and retaliatory rhetoric will become even more poisonous. Under such conditions, does anyone really believe that only Ukraine is at risk of a new wave of aggression in 2028?

 – asked the Ukrainian minister and appealed for further support from Ukraine.

Ukraine's victory will be difficult, but it is possible. Let's work together to keep Europe's gates closed and protected from Russian terror.