Is Russia preparing to end the war? A military analyst sheds light on the latest signals coming from the Kremlin.

The speaker of the Russian-controlled "parliament" of Crimea, Vladimir Konstantinov, recently stated that Russia has not achieved the capitulation of Ukraine and will not be able to conclude the so-called "special military operation" on its own terms. Prior to this, Western media reported that a meeting of governors took place in Russia, where they were instructed on how to communicate to the public that Russia's defeat in the war equates to a victory. Military analyst Denis Popovich discussed what these trends indicate.

"Konstantinov is, in principle, a significant figure. Yes, a collaborator... but he wouldn't say this unless he had permission. He possesses certain information that allows him to make such statements. So, this is symptomatic," Popovich stated during the program "Zaraz!" on the YouTube channel Telegraf UA.

However, there is a contradiction in the actions of the Russian authorities. On one hand, there are certain signals suggesting a supposed readiness to halt the war; on the other hand, the Russian Federation is increasing its military capabilities and adopting the largest military budget in its history.

"This can be characterized as them potentially being open to negotiations, but one must pay attention to their actions. The reality is that they are continuing their offensive, preparing for bombings, and increasing military expenditures," Popovich summarized.

As reported by Telegraf, Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans believes that Kyiv should not engage in peace talks with Moscow for now. Currently, Russia holds an advantage on the battlefield, and the results of the U.S. elections make the situation even more uncertain.