Putin Likely to Escalate War After Russian Elections, Warns Kasparov

Russian opposition activist Garry Kasparov says President Vladimir Putin has no intention to sign a peace deal with Ukraine and is expected to intensify the conflict after Russia’s September parliamentary elections. Kasparov argues that increased Ukrainian strikes on Russian military logistics and energy infrastructure have weakened Moscow, prompting the Kremlin to consider further escalation.

He warns that a likely form of provocation would be a limited incursion into a Baltic NATO member – such as Latvia, Estonia or Lithuania – to test the alliance’s response, especially that of the United States. Kasparov points to recent Russian legislative changes that would simplify troop mobilization by removing mandatory medical examinations as evidence of preparation for expanded conflict. He stresses that “all signs point to war, war, war, war,” and calls on the EU to tighten sanctions and deny tourist visas to Russian citizens.

The warning follows NATO’s acknowledgment that a direct Russian attack on a NATO country could trigger collective defense measures under Article 5.