Putin can declare formal war on Ukraine by May 9 for full mobilisation of forces: US

US and Western officials believe that Russian President Vlimir Putin could formally declare a war on Ukraine as soon as May 9, more than two months after he announced a ‘special’ operation on neighbouring country. declaration of war, according to a CNN report, would allow full mobilisation of Russia’s reserve forces as y attempt to conquer eastern and sourn Ukraine. May 9 is also known as Russia’s ‘Victory Day’ as it commemorates defeat of Nazis in 1945. 

As per report, Western officials have believed for a long that Putin could use leverage of country’s Victory Day to announce eir a military achievement in Ukraine, an escalation in hostilities, or even both. But, now officials in West have started to hone in on one scenario in which Putin formally declares war on Ukraine on May 9. However, it is to note that till now, Russian government has insisted that ongoing conflict is only a “special military operation” for “denazification” of Ukraine. 

If not a formal declaration of war, Putin can annex breakaway territories of Luhansk and Donetsk in eastern Ukraine, report stated. Earlier on Monday, Michael Carpenter, US ambassor to Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, said that Washinton has “highly credible” intelligence reports that Russia will try to annex Luhansk and Donetsk “some time in mid-May,” 

re are also indications that Russia could be planning to declare and annex a “people’s republic” in souastern city of Kherson, stated report. Even US State Department Spokesperson Ned price h said on Monday that re is “good reason to believe that Russians will do everything y can to use” May 9 to promote its agenda. 

Price said, "We've seen Russians really double down on ir propaganda efforts, probably, almost certainly, as a means to distract from ir tactical and strategic failures on battlefield in Ukraine".

Price ded that he h “seen speculation that Russia may formally declare war” on May 9, and said, “that would be a great irony if Moscow used occasion of 'Victory Day' to declare war, which in itself would allow m to surge conscripts in a way y're not able to do now, in a way that would be tantamount to revealing to world that ir war effort is failing, that y are floundering in ir military campaign and military objectives."

Just last week, UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has told LBC Rio, “I think he will try to move from his 'special operation’...He's been rolling pitch, laying ground for being able to say 'look, this is now a war against Nazis, and what I need is more people. I need more Russian cannon fodder.’” Wallace also said, “that he “would not be surprised, and I don't have any information about this, that he is probably going to declare on this May Day that 'we are now at war with world's Nazis and we need to mass mobilize Russian people.’”

What happens if Russia declares formal war?

formal declaration of war on May 9 could galvanise Russian citizens and surge popular opinion toward invasion. ditionally, under law, declaration of war would allow Kremlin leer to mobilise reserve forces and draft conscripts. According to officials cited by CNN, Russia presently needs more soldiers as it tackles a manpower shortage. 

Image: AP