WORLD NEWS

Russian President Vladimir Putin has no intention of halting the war in Ukraine unless the West accepts his terms for peace — and he is prepared to widen his territorial ambitions if Ukrainian defences falter, according to three sources close to the Kremlin who spoke with Reuters.
Despite recent pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, including threats of tougher sanctions and a 50-day deadline for a ceasefire, the Kremlin is confident that Russia’s military advantage and economic endurance can outlast Western resistance.
“Putin thinks no one has seriously engaged with him on the details of peace in Ukraine – including the Americans – so he will continue until he gets what he wants,” said one of the sources, all of whom spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.
Putin’s Peace Demands
The sources say that any peace plan acceptable to Moscow would require:
· A legally binding guarantee that NATO will not expand eastward;
· Ukrainian neutrality and limits on its armed forces;
· Protection for Russian-speaking populations; and
· Acceptance of Russia’s territorial gains, including Crimea and occupied regions of eastern Ukraine.
While Putin is open to a multinational security guarantee for Ukraine, details remain vague. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has stated Kyiv will never recognise Russian sovereignty over annexed territories and retains its right to pursue NATO membership.
Trump’s Pressure & Putin’s Calculation
President Trump, who returned to the White House in January 2025, has attempted to reboot U.S.-Russia relations. He’s held multiple calls with Putin and dispatched envoy Steve Witkoff to Moscow. Yet, the Kremlin remains dissatisfied.
“Putin values the relationship with Trump but puts Russian interests above all else,” a second source said.
On Monday, Trump announced major new arms shipments to Ukraine, including Patriot missile systems, and hinted at possible 100% tariffs on Russian goods and secondary sanctions on countries like India and China that buy Russian oil. The Kremlin remains unfazed.
“Russia has already survived the toughest sanctions ever,” a source added. “We can survive more.”
Despite Trump’s characterization of Putin as a "tough guy" rather than an assassin, the Kremlin sees the U.S. leader as unpredictable and is treading carefully to avoid further provocation.
Territorial Expansion Likely if Ukraine Weakens
Russia, which currently controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory, has gained 1,415 square kilometers (546 square miles) in the past three months. Kremlin insiders say that if Ukrainian defences collapse, Moscow could push further into Dnipropetrovsk, Sumy, and Kharkiv.
“Appetite comes with eating,” one source said, noting that Putin’s ambitions may grow as Russia gains ground.
For now, Russia has consolidated control over:
· Crimea (annexed in 2014)
· Luhansk and over 70% of Donetsk
· Large parts of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson
· Fragments of Kharkiv, Sumy, and Dnipropetrovsk
Putin insists Kyiv must withdraw from these territories for peace talks to begin.
Military Balance & Global Risks
Ukraine continues to resist with Western support but faces overwhelming Russian manpower and artillery production, reportedly outpacing NATO in key munitions.
“Russia will act based on Ukraine’s weakness,” a source warned, suggesting Moscow may slow or accelerate offensives based on battlefield conditions.
Meanwhile, the war’s toll remains staggering: over 1.2 million dead or injured, according to U.S. estimates. The largest European war since World War II shows no sign of ending soon.
As tensions escalate between the world’s two largest nuclear powers, one Kremlin insider predicted, “There will be an escalation. And the war will continue.”