Bloomberg: Putin plans to intensify attacks on Ukraine over winter to test its resilience
European and US officials have resigned themselves to Russia's war against Ukraine continuing into next year, as the latest US peace initiative has failed to make progress.
Source: Bloomberg
Details: According to European officials familiar with the situation, Russian leader Vladimir Putin intends to intensify attacks on Ukraine over the winter to test its resilience and the resolve of Kyiv's allies.
US President Donald Trump's envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff made no significant progress during their talks in Moscow and Kyiv.
The officials said Putin has shown no signs of softening his position.
He wants to take control of the whole of Donetsk Oblast as part of any agreement to end the war.
According to one source, Russia's plan for the next six months is to intensify strikes on Ukraine's energy and heating infrastructure in an attempt to make life unbearable for civilians and step up hybrid attacks and political interference in Europe to undermine support for Kyiv.
A Bloomberg source added that Putin expects to emerge in a stronger position next spring while keeping Russia's increasingly strained economy afloat.
Another source said serious negotiations are unlikely to take place until at least next year.
Officials said Ukraine's allies should respond by prioritising the delivery of air defence interceptors to help Kyiv defend itself.
Bloomberg also said that trilateral talks between representatives of the US, Russia and Ukraine could resume after Russia's State Duma elections, although such discussions are unlikely to have a significant impact on reaching a peace agreement.
Background:
- A source at the Élysée Palace told European Pravda that Putin would be ready to resume peace negotiations on Ukraine after the Russian parliamentary elections on 18-20 September.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said after meeting US envoys that he had received a message from them: "the Russians are ready to negotiate".
- Following his meeting with Trump's special envoys, Zelenskyy also announced preparations for further meetings and the relevant communication.
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