Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
In a rare and revealing statement, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that over 700,000 Russian troops are currently deployed along the frontlines of what Moscow continues to call its “special military operation” in Ukraine. The figure, disclosed during a meeting with parliamentary party leaders in the State Duma on Thursday, marks one of the largest troop mobilizations by Russia since the beginning of the conflict.
“There are more than 700,000 people on the contact line,” Putin said, praising the commitment of Russian forces and expressing confidence in their future roles within public service and political life. “I know that many veterans are joining your ranks. I’m confident they will make positive contributions locally, nationally, in the Duma, and across federal agencies,” he added.
Putin emphasized the importance of promoting those who have proven their loyalty and bravery on the battlefield into leadership positions. “We need people who are not afraid to serve their country, people willing to risk their health and their lives. These are the people who should be in command,” he told lawmakers.
Highlighting what he called a surge in patriotism among Russia’s youth, Putin said young Russians are increasingly demonstrating a willingness to defend their homeland and uphold “traditional values,” underscoring the Kremlin’s long-standing ideological narrative framing the war in Ukraine as a battle for national identity.
Trump: No More Threat of World War III
On the same day and thousands of kilometers away, former U.S. President Donald Trump offered his own take on the conflict in Ukraine, asserting that the war no longer poses a risk of escalating into a third world war.
Speaking alongside UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer at a joint press conference in London, Trump stressed that while resolving wars is “never easy,” he is committed to ending the Ukraine conflict. “We are working very hard on it,” he said, noting that he had once hoped for a swift resolution thanks to his personal rapport with Putin.
“We resolved seven wars that were very difficult. I thought this would be the easiest one, thanks to my relationship with President Putin,” Trump said. “I still believe peace is achievable in Ukraine.”
Trump dismissed fears that the Ukraine war could spiral into a broader global conflict. “This was a war that could have escalated into World War III. I don’t believe we’re heading there anymore. But at one point, everything was pointing toward it,” he warned.
Blame and Hindsight
Reiterating a familiar claim, Trump argued that the war in Ukraine would never have erupted had he still been in office. “If I had been President, this would never have happened, never during my four years, and not even close,” he said.
Although hopeful that a resolution is within reach, Trump expressed frustration that a diplomatic breakthrough remains elusive. “It’s disappointing that it hasn’t been solved yet. But we are committed, and I think we’ll hear good news soon,” he added, hinting at ongoing backchannel efforts.
Trump also touched on broader geopolitical strategy, particularly the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. He revealed that Washington is now seeking to reclaim the Bagram Air Base, once a major U.S. military hub in Afghanistan. “We left, but not the way we should have. We gave away Bagram for free, but now we’re looking to get it back,” Trump said.
He cited Bagram’s strategic value, especially its proximity to western China. “It’s one of the biggest air bases in the world. And it’s only an hour’s drive from where China manufactures its nuclear weapons. That’s important,” Trump noted.
A Chasm in Diplomacy, a Crisis in Progress
The conflicting narratives Putin’s assertion of strength and domestic mobilization versus Trump’s optimistic, yet vague, promises of peace highlight a complex and unresolved conflict that continues to shape global security.
Despite claims from both leaders that peace remains possible, the reality on the ground tells a different story. With over 700,000 Russian troops engaged, Ukrainian resistance still strong, and diplomatic channels sluggish or frozen, the war appears far from a resolution.
Earlier this month, Putin did hint at the possibility of a “mutually acceptable agreement” to end the war, though he accused Kyiv and the West of rejecting past peace overtures. He claimed that, if such a deal is reached, Russia would honor it, an assertion viewed skeptically by Western officials.
As the war drags on into its third year, any breakthrough whether from a future Trump presidency or a shift in Moscow’s calculus, remains highly uncertain. For now, the military machinery grinds on, with civilians bearing the brunt of its consequences.
