Russia might be preparing for a great war – think-tank

An independent public think-tank The Centre for Eastern Studies (OŚW), has published a report in which it suggests that Russia’s recent militarization  might lead to an “open military conflict.” “It is increasingly justified to claim that that the spiral of militarization which has been set in motion in Russia over recent years has already reached a critical ‘point of no return’, or is approaching such a point; and that the ruling team in Moscow has become largely a hostage to its own policies,” the study said. According to OŚW, presently, the most probable scenario is Russia expanding its military presence in Ukraine as this would be “the easiest and safest (least bloody) variant” for Moscow. However, the scenario might change as “It remains an open question ... in which direction Russia will strike, as it does not have to be Ukraine, either in the medium or longer term.” OŚW lists a number of Russian Army’s strategic military exercises that either took place or will take place in the near future in which several hundred thousands troop participate. Such “clear demonstration of power is to exert pressure on the West, to force it to make further concessions on the issue of Ukraine and confirm the Russian Federation’s position as a superpower.” OŚW also points out that Moscow will increase its military spending to 4 percent of GDP next year, such increase, while other sectors of economy suffer from significant slowdown of economic growth and other economic, political and sociological aspects might suggest, that Russia is preparing for a bigger war, the analysis concludes. Whole report can be found here