Ukraine presented proposals to US negotiators to end the war - Zelensky
According to the Ukrainian leader, the Russians are preparing to declare mobilization in the fall, after the parliamentary elections.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine has submitted proposals to US negotiators on ending the war with Russia. He also suggested that Russia would use next month's parliamentary elections as a pretext for a new mobilization. He made the remarks in a video message late on Sunday.
The head of state said: "We have submitted our proposals to the American side. The United States can help strengthen our defense, especially in the field of air defense, and put pressure on Russia to change its plans to prepare for ending the war, not continuing it."
Zelensky said that Ukrainian intelligence has evidence that Russia will use the September elections to announce a new mobilization in order to replenish its combat forces.
"They are preparing for mobilization in the fall, as soon as the parliamentary elections are staged. Then, after the so-called 'elections', he (Putin) plans to quickly mobilize several hundred thousand more Russians by the end of the year, and the same number next year," Zelensky said. He noted that this is part of a plan to "create the impression that Russians support the war."