Russia's Latest Moves Signal Preparation For 'Protracted' War With NATO, Expert Says in Dire Warning

As the Kremlin moves to increase defense spending and change laws surrounding troop mobilization, experts are warning that these are signals Russia is preparing for a "protracted" war not only with Ukraine, but with NATO as well.

On July 22, the lower chamber of Russia's parliament submitted a bill that proposes "to change the approach to the conscription of citizens for military service and establish that the conscription of citizens for military service is carried out during the calendar year," according to the Kyiv Independent.

On the same day, Ukraine's military intelligence chief, Kyrylo Budanov, warned during an annual Ukrainian Ambassadors meeting that Russia is planning to add $1.1 trillion to military and defense spending over the next 11 years in preparation for a large-scale war.

"There is a total mobilization of politics, economy, and society of the Russian Federation to be ready for the upcoming large-scale war," Budanov said last week.

Budanov also revealed that two new military districts, one in Moscow and another in Leningrad, have already been created as part of the reform.

Experts are now warning that the troubling moves are more signs that Russia is preparing for war with NATO.

"All of these components — new military districts, changes in mobilization and defence spending — are suggesting that Russia is preparing for a protracted war, not just in Ukraine but also against NATO," Kateryna Stepanenko, Russia deputy team lead and analyst at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), told the Kyiv Independent.

Russia's current draft is done in two waves every year, in the spring and the fall, but if the new bill becomes law, Russia's mobilization efforts will cover the entire year, the Ukrainian news outlet reported, citing a copy of the bill.

The bill's chances of becoming law are extremely high, according to Ukrainian defense expert Denys Popovych, who also said that when the bill is passed, it can "be considered a stealth mobilization."

Stepanenko, when asked by the Kyiv Independent about Russia's 11-year timeline, said that Putin does not want to risk upsetting citizens with a sudden pivot, and that Russia believes they can outlast western aid with patience.

"So the Kremlin is taking a long-term approach. The Kremlin's theory of victory is that it can outlast Western support and Ukrainian resistance," Stepanenko said.

Since the beginning of the war, Russia has lost over 1 million troops, according to the Ukraine Ministry of Defense, adding that on July 29 alone, Russia lost over 1000 soldiers.

Stepanenko's warning comes as President Donald Trump tightens his deadline for Russian President Vladimir Putin to reach a ceasefire with Ukraine.

On Monday, Trump set a deadline of "10 or 12 days" for Russia to take steps towards ending the war in Ukraine or risk consequences, shortening his original deadline of 50 days.

"There's no reason to wait. If you know what the answer is going to be, why wait? And it would be sanctions and maybe tariffs, secondary tariffs," Trump said during a trip to Scotland, after saying he was "disappointed" with Russian President Vladimir Putin. "I don't want to do that to Russia. I love the Russian people."

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev later responded to Trump over his reduced deadline for the country to take steps towards ending the war in Ukraine, warning that each new ultimatum is a "threat" and step towards war.