KYIV. Dec 21 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Several political experts have predicted early parliamentary elections will be called in the second half of 2017.

"During the first six months of 2017 I do not expect early elections, but in the second half of the year – yes. The external factor will be critical, when the priorities of [U.S. President-elect Donald] Trump's foreign policy are formed and it becomes clear what will happen with the Minsk agreements. We want to freeze the conflict, but it is impossible to do this. All these "Svitlodarsk battles" periodically will take place and they are leading us to understand that it's impossible to freeze the conflict. This will be a kind of "boring background war" and it must be settled. But the current parliament will never solve the Minsk process. Fatigue has set in and it is clear that this parliament refuses to diffuse the situation," said the head of the Global Strategies Institute Vadym Karasiov during a press conference on Wednesday at Interfax-Ukraine in Kyiv.

The political expert also said the situation in the social sphere, which said was pathetic, would also play a role.

Director of the sociological bureau of the Ukrainian Barometer, a Kyiv-based think tank, Viktor Nebozhenko, agreed. He said Russian President Vladimir Putin and President-elect Trump do not have any up-and-coming politicians they can place bets on. He said this will mean the two leaders will quietly "coordinate their actions to force early elections in Ukraine."

The strategic consulting corporation Gardarika Kostiantyn Matvienko said the war can not last through 2017.

"Russia, making use of the change of the U.S. administration and disarray within the European Union because of the influx of refugees from Syria, as well as the impossibility of influencing Russia's behavior in Syria, will remain a threat for us all. This is happening as Ukraine's political elites distance themselves from their primary responsibilities," he said.