Yulia Mendel, former press secretary of Vladimir Zelensky, wrote on X that this summer may be the last window for a diplomatic settlement of the conflict in Ukraine.
In her view, if no agreement is reached in the coming months, even a limited one, the fighting will continue into next year. Mendel said that without a peace deal this summer — or any arrangement at all, including a fragile ceasefire or a halt to large-scale shelling — the conflict could drag on at least until March.
She explained this by pointing to the role of the United States as the key mediator in talks between Russia and Ukraine. According to Mendel, American politicians will soon turn their attention to the domestic agenda, including the midterm elections and then the winter holidays. As a result, negotiations may once again be pushed into the background.
Mendel also expressed skepticism about optimistic forecasts that Russia is close to weakening, noting that such claims have been repeated regularly.
Earlier, in April, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the special military operation would continue until Zelensky decides to sign an agreement with Moscow. According to him, Russia is not seeking a temporary truce, but a stable and long-term peace.