Russia is ready to take advantage of any cessation of hostilities and the "freezing" of the war to prepare for a possible future offensive in Ukraine. This is stated in a report by the US Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Dzerkalo Tyzhnya reports.
The Institute's analysts believe that the possible cessation of hostilities does not give confidence that Putin will adhere to the terms of the "truce", as Russia has repeatedly violated agreements on the recognition of Ukraine's territorial integrity, including the recognition of Ukraine as an independent state in 1991 and the 1994 Budapest Memorandum.
"A cessation of hostilities would give the Russians the opportunity to restore the combat capability of the army, which suffered significant losses during the invasion, mobilise people for large-scale expansion and reforms instead of waging war in Ukraine, and attract more resources for the defence industry without restrictions on urgent needs in Ukraine," ISW notes.
The ISW also emphasises that Putin's "freezing of the conflict" is a hope that the West will reduce its military and economic support for Ukraine, and the Kremlin will be able to better prepare its army to resume hostilities.