Ukraine’s war is “long”… and threatens to expand

The war in Ukraine threatens to expand, after a Russian military official revealed the objectives of the second phase of his country’s military operation, while Britain warned that the war may continue until the end of next year.

The Russian “TASS” news agency quoted the Deputy Commander of the Central Military District, Major General Rustam Minkayev, as saying that during the second stage of the special operation, the Russian army should impose complete control over Donbass.

Minkayev also noted that one of the goals of this stage is “the control of southern Ukraine”, considering this “an essential way to directly reach Transnistria (Pridnestrovje – Moldavia), where there are also facts about the persecution of the Russian-speaking population”.

Yesterday, Moldova summoned the Russian ambassador to protest against the Russian general’s statement. In a statement, the Foreign Ministry demanded that Moscow respect Moldova’s “territorial sovereignty” and “neutrality”.

For his part, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson stressed yesterday that the conflict in Ukraine may not end quickly due to the solid resistance faced by Russian forces. When asked whether he agreed with intelligence assessments that the fighting might continue until the end of next year, he told reporters in New Delhi, “Unfortunately, this is a realistic possibility.”

In a related context, the Kremlin announced yesterday that United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will visit Russia on Tuesday, where he will meet President Vladimir Putin, in their first meeting since the start of the war in Ukraine.

On the peace negotiations front, Putin, in a telephone conversation with European Council President Charles Michel, criticized Ukraine’s “volatile” positions and its lack of willingness to search for mutually acceptable solutions.
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