Russian MP Demands Putin Present a Strategy to End the War

A Call to Halt the Conflict

According to ХВИЛЯ: Vyacheslav Markhayev, a State Duma deputy from the Communist Party, has urged President Vladimir Putin to release a concrete plan for ending the war against Ukraine. He accused the Kremlin of mismanagement and highlighted a range of issues stemming from the conflict, including corruption scandals, the rise of oligarchic interests, the loss of a significant portion of the active population, and drone strikes originating from Ukraine.

“The era of illusions is over. The country is on the brink of a social explosion, and the blame for this will fall squarely on the current authorities,” Markhayev stated.

This demand from Markhayev is not an isolated incident. Late last month, his fellow party member, deputy Renat Suleymanov, also called for a swift resolution to the hostilities. Public discontent is on the rise, as reflected in other recent statements. In March, Ilya Remeslo, a former staunch Kremlin loyalist, labeled Putin a war criminal and a thief. At the beginning of April, only 29.5% of Russians expressed trust in the president among political figures.

Economic Strain and Frontline Tensions

The country’s economic situation is also raising alarms. Military spending has surged by over 30%, accounting for 46% of all budget expenditures at the start of 2026. According to economist Janis Kluge,

“the pace of military spending looks even more striking-and, from the Kremlin’s perspective, alarming-when compared to budget revenues.”

From January to March 2026, military outlays equaled two-thirds of the budget’s total income.

The situation on the front remains tense as well. Last week’s St. Petersburg Economic Forum was hit by two massive drone attacks. Meanwhile, the absence of Central Bank head Elvira Nabiullina from the forum raised many questions. According to independent Russian media outlets, Nabiullina has issued an ultimatum to Putin and plans to leave the Central Bank in the near future.

Against this backdrop, Ukraine has asked its allies for an additional $20 billion. This request is expected to be formally presented on June 18 during a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group. The situation in the country continues to be strained, with growing dissatisfaction among public figures and the population, potentially leading to serious consequences for the authorities.

The calls from Communist Party representatives to end the war may signal rising discontent within Russian society over the conduct of military operations and their repercussions. The increase in military spending and the decline in trust in President Putin suggest that the situation could become even more challenging if economic and social problems remain unaddressed. Amid escalating frontline tensions and internal political criticism, the Kremlin may need to reconsider its strategy in the war with Ukraine.

The increasing pressure on the Kremlin is evident as more voices within the political landscape call for an end to the ongoing conflict. This mounting discontent aligns with recent developments, where officials are urging the need for a strategic exit from the war. For a deeper understanding of the factors influencing this shift in rhetoric, you can explore how the Kremlin is responding to the growing demands for peace in our article on the Kremlin's search for a way out of the war.