Some economic and military indicators suggest that Russia may be preparing for a large-scale conventional war with NATO, “likely on a shorter timeline than what some Western analysts have initially posited,” the Institute for the Study of War assessed in its daily report on March 20. Although not an imminent threat, the ISW assesses that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s emphasis on growing Russia’s economic and military capabilities is an indication that Russia is gearing up for conflict beyond “a protracted war in Ukraine.” Following Putin’s rigged “victory” in the 2024 Russian presidential…