Kyiv (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Ukrainian government and military analysts indicated that Russian forces are gearing up to initiate a new military offensive in the upcoming weeks, aiming to intensify pressure on Ukraine and bolster the Kremlin’s stance in ceasefire negotiations, AP reported.
Ukrainian officials stated that this action might provide President Vladimir Putin with further justification to postpone talks aimed at halting the conflict, as he may prefer to pursue additional territory. They reiterated their view that Russia shows no interest in partaking in sincere discussions to conclude the war.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated, based on intelligence reports, that Russia is preparing for new offensives in the northeastern regions of Sumy, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia.
“They’re prolonging the discussions, attempting to entangle the U.S. in endless, futile debates over false ‘conditions’ to buy time and seize more land,”
Zelenskyy stated during his Thursday visit to Paris.
“Putin aims to negotiate about territory while in a stronger position.”
In Kyiv, two G7 diplomats concurred with this view. They requested anonymity as they were not permitted to speak to the press. Russia has effectively dismissed a U.S. suggestion for an immediate, complete 30-day cessation of hostilities, and the possibility of a partial ceasefire in the Black Sea became uncertain after Kremlin negotiators set demanding conditions.
Putin is fixated on battlefield achievements. He stated Thursday during a forum in the Arctic port of Murmansk,
“The strategic initiative is fully under the control of the Russian armed forces along the entire front line. Our troops are advancing and liberating territory daily, one settlement at a time.”
What is the Kremlin’s goal behind renewed fighting?
Ukrainian military leaders reported that Russia has recently intensified its attacks to enhance its tactical advantages in anticipation of a larger offensive.
“They require time until May, that’s all,”
Stated Pavlo Narozhnyi, a Ukrainian military analyst collaborating with troops and gathering intelligence from them.
In the north, Russian and North Korean forces have almost stripped Kyiv of a vital bargaining tool by reclaiming the majority of Russia’s Kursk region, where Ukrainian troops conducted a bold incursion last year. Additionally, fighting has intensified on the eastern front in Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia.
Some commanders worry that Russia could shift its battle-tested troops from Kursk to other eastern areas. A Ukrainian battalion commander in Donetsk, who requested anonymity to share his worries, remarked,
“It will be difficult. The troops from Kursk will arrive energized by their victories there.”
Ukrainian military analyst Oleksii Hetman, linked to the military’s general staff, stated,
“They are planning offensive operations on the front expected to continue for six to nine months throughout almost all of 2025. “
