The Russian invasion of Ukraine, initiated by Vladimir Putin in February 2022, was initially aimed at a swift conquest. However, the war has now dragged on for nearly 19 months, with no clear end in sight.
Despite the sluggish progress of Kremlin forces and a counteroffensive launched by Ukraine in June 2023, a key Russian political figure has made a startling prediction about the conflict's duration.
The Russian military has struggled to gain control over Ukraine, facing stiff resistance from Ukrainian forces and receiving support from Western nations.
The situation took a turn when Ukraine launched a counteroffensive in June 2023, further complicating Russia's military objectives.
Pyotr Tolstoy, the deputy speaker of the Russian parliament, has been vocal about the ongoing conflict.
In a recent interview shared on Twitter by Anton Gerashchenko, an adviser to the Ukrainian Interior Minister, Tolstoy revealed his thoughts on the hurdles Russia faces. He acknowledged the serious resistance from Ukraine and mentioned that the international community's support for Ukraine is a significant obstacle for Russia.
The prediction: A timeframe for the war
In the same interview, Tolstoy made a surprising prediction about the war's duration.
He believes the conflict will come to an end "in two to three years."
According to him, the resistance from Ukraine is formidable, and the support they are receiving from other countries in terms of weapons and materials is a factor that cannot be underestimated.
Tolstoy didn't stop at predictions. He accused Ukrainian soldiers of targeting civilian areas in Russian-occupied territories, a claim that Russia itself has been accused of but vehemently denies.
Tolstoy issued a veiled threat, stating that Ukraine would pay a "high price" for evolving into an "anti-Russia" country, adding, "Whether there will be a kind of Ukraine or not - I don't really care. We'll see whether it stays or not."
