Russian President Vladimir Putin remains determined to continue military operations in Ukraine unless the West agrees to negotiate peace on Moscow’s terms, according to multiple sources familiar with Kremlin thinking.
Despite recent U.S. threats of increased sanctions and arms deliveries to Kyiv, including Patriot missile systems, insiders say Putin believes the Russian economy and military are resilient enough to withstand further Western pressure.
“Putin feels no one has seriously discussed a peace deal with him,” one source told Reuters, suggesting that the Kremlin leader views talks with the U.S. as lacking depth or sincerity.
Since the 2022 invasion, Russia has seized large areas of Ukrainian territory and continues to advance slowly. Kremlin-linked sources claim Moscow may seek additional gains beyond its currently held regions unless Ukraine’s defenses hold or the West engages in serious diplomacy.
Putin reportedly demands that Ukraine abandon NATO ambitions, accept Russian control over annexed territories, and agree to limits on its military. In return, Moscow might consider a broader security arrangement for Ukraine involving other major powers.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has firmly rejected such conditions, vowing never to cede territory or abandon NATO aspirations. Kyiv maintains that its forces, though outnumbered, are inflicting high costs on Russia’s military in the current summer offensive.
Despite repeated contacts between Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump, Moscow remains skeptical of Washington’s intentions. Trump’s threats of 100% tariffs on Russian goods and secondary sanctions on its oil buyers, such as China and India, have so far not altered Russia’s course.
Sources close to the Kremlin say Putin could expand operations into new Ukrainian regions if resistance falters. However, if Ukrainian defenses hold, Russia may consolidate its current positions.
Putin continues to frame the war as a struggle against Western encroachment following NATO’s post-Cold War expansion — a view that shapes his long-term strategy. Observers warn that unless substantive negotiations begin soon, the conflict is likely to escalate further.
