This perspective was shared by former Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S., Valeriy Chaly, during an expert discussion titled “Russian Elections and Temporarily Occupied Territories: Challenges for Ukraine,” as reported by an Ukrinform correspondent.
“We can say with a certain degree of probability that Putin may raise the issue of the security of the process in the occupied territories with the Americans. Hypothetically, for Washington to press Ukraine not to take any actions for 3 days, when these ‘elections’ are held, and the situation remains safe – similar to when Putin asked for the parade to be held (Red Square Parade on May 9th, – ed.),” he stated.
Chaly also did not rule out the possibility that Putin might publicly propose a three-day ceasefire during the “elections.”
The former ambassador believes it is appropriate for Ukraine, under such a scenario, to consider the aggressor country’s pseudo-electoral procedures in the temporarily occupied territories as a continuation of the Russian Federation’s crime.
Read also: Putin seeks to evade responsibility for the war – ISW
As reported, Russia is scheduled to hold Duma elections on September 20th. These will be the first Duma elections since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The aggressor nation plans to conduct “elections” also in the temporarily occupied territories of the Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and Luhansk regions.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky believes that after the Duma elections, Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin intends to initiate mobilization, expecting to draft between 300,000 and 500,000 individuals.
За матеріалами: www.ukrinform.ua