Putin's Changing Tactics: From Off-Ramp to Bigger War

A new report suggests that Russian President Putin is likely to seek an escalation of the war against Ukraine instead of looking for a way to de-escalate the conflict. This is due to Russia's new mobilization law, which aims to maximize firepower and erode Western support for Kyiv. The law streamlines the mobilization process and allows the Kremlin to issue draft notices electronically, ensuring that young men cannot evade conscription. Additionally, Putin is determined to further damage the Ukrainian economy, while the Russian economy is expected to see modest growth this year. The Kremlin continues to conduct airstrikes on Ukrainian cities and is stirring up trouble on Ukraine's perimeter, including in Belarus.