"There are two options for Putin": Expert explains whether the world should prepare for a major war

Military expert Oleg Starikov said that Europe will soon rearm and be ready to seriously confront Russia, but Putin might decide to start this war now in order to disrupt all plans, reports Politeka.

He discussed this on his channel.

According to the expert, the events of 2026 have shown that the situation on the front has reached not only a positional deadlock but also a strategic one. Militarily, it is impossible to win the war due to the factor of time, which is just as important as forces, equipment, resources, morale, and combat readiness. Despite the fact that the United States has exited the war, he emphasizes that Europe has fully entered it with its resources, finances, economy, technology, and combat support.

"If nothing is done and the situation on the front continues at the same pace, by 2028 Europe will have restored its military-industrial complex, and then the situation for Moscow will be extremely difficult. A sign of Moscow's capitulation will loom ahead. Why do I say this? In 2028 Europe will become a real military power. Defeating it with conventional weapons will be impossible in every respect," asserts Oleg Starikov.

In the Kremlin’s view, he explains, ending the war now would give its opponents time to strengthen, and the war would continue—but no longer in favor of Russia. In other words, the expert explains, if Russia simply stops the war now, it would lead to strategic defeat.

"That is the entire military secret that the West is playing out. Therefore, for Putin there are two options in this situation: the first is to follow the Western scenario and ultimately suffer a strategic defeat at the hands of the European-Ukraine coalition, and the second is escalation and a major war with Europe—but immediately, this summer," explains Oleg Starikov.