The Kremlin plans to end the war in Ukraine before the presidential election in 2024, Meduza writes.

The authorities have begun to develop an election campaign for the 2024 presidential election. The Kremlin assumes that the war in Ukraine will end before then. About it informed Andrey Pertsev, author of Meduza, citing sources close to the presidential administration.

How will the election campaign go? According to Meduza’s interlocutor, there is no talk of other candidates in the elections, except for the incumbent Russian president, Vladimir Putin. “Sparring partners” in the voting will be members of parliamentary parties. “There will be no liberal candidates, even for appearances,” the source added.

In a conversation with reporters, the source also explained that the election campaign will be based on anti-Western rhetoric – Putin will talk about “the return of Russia’s greatness, the fight against the West and the multipolar world.” Representatives of the presidential administration themselves insist that voters do not care about these topics, but Putin himself wants to talk about this.

What do we know about the end of the war? The Kremlin hopes that the war in Ukraine will end before the presidential elections in 2024, Meduza sources say. “You have to go to the polls with achievements. For example, with a certain set of annexed territories. But what territories these will be is still unclear, ”added the interlocutors of the publication.

How can elections be held? Kremlin officials plan to achieve “record results” for Putin. According to the interlocutor of the publication, “support [президента] should be total” because of the “referendums” in the occupied territories – 100% of those who voted were allegedly “in favor of joining Russia”. The AP representative said that it is impossible to show a lower result in 2024.

Another political strategist working with the Kremlin told Meduza that the most “logical” and “understandable” option is to cancel the elections — the Kremlin could impose martial law and postpone the vote. In his opinion, the population should not be “disturbed by record numbers.” However, he doubts such a scenario is possible because Putin “loves to see the results of popular support.”

What you need to know. Formerly “Meduza” informed that the Kremlin wants to achieve a ceasefire in Ukraine. As journalists said, the Russian authorities want to take advantage of the lull in order to prepare a “full-scale offensive” in February-March 2023.