Halting war, lifting martial law this autumn: Zelenskyy’s Office names main condition
If Russia’s summer offensive on Kupiansk and Mala Tokmachka ultimately fails, Ukraine could freeze the front line and lift martial law by autumn.
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The war in Ukraine could end in the autumn of 2026 / Illustrative image / © Associated PressUkraine could end in the fall of 2026 / Illustrative image / © Associated Press
Ukrainian officials haven't ruled out pausing active hostilities and Russia’s missile-and-drone terror campaign as early as this autumn. The key prerequisite remains completely derailing the Russian command's strategic goals.
Presidential Office advisor Mykhailo Podolyak outlined the conditions for a potential conflict "freeze" during a "United News" broadcast.
Putin’s two goals and a potential freeze
According to Podolyak, the Russian dictator is currently conducting a large-scale summer offensive campaign, driven by two obsessions — capturing Mala Tokmachka or Kupiansk. However, it is already clear that this offensive has failed, and the Russian army is showing an absolute inability to advance any further.
"If this fails, then autumn could bring... a halt to the active phase of the war. That means a halt to missile and drone strikes, a halt to hostilities along the front line, a line of demarcation, a freeze, monitoring, and mediators," Podolyak explained. He added that under such a scenario, the authorities would be able to lift martial law and begin preparations for elections in Ukraine.