As the war in Ukraine grinds into its third year, Russian President Vladimir Putin appears undeterred by renewed pressure from the United States, vowing to press on with his military campaign and signaling a possible expansion of territorial ambitions unless the West meets his terms for peace.
Three senior sources close to the Kremlin tell Reuters that Putin has no intention of backing down, despite recent moves by President Donald Trump to ramp up military aid to Ukraine and impose economic pressure on Moscow. They say Putin is not intimidated and believes Russia can outlast any additional Western sanctions, including U.S. threats to impose steep tariffs on countries buying Russian oil.
One Kremlin insider put it bluntly: “Putin will continue until he gets what he wants.”
President Trump earlier this week approved a fresh military package for Ukraine reportedly including Patriot surface-to-air missile systems and warned that unless a ceasefire is agreed within 50 days, Russia and its trading partners could face sweeping new sanctions.
But Moscow’s response has been muted. According to those close to the Russian president, Putin feels that no serious peace proposals—especially from Washington, have been presented. Despite multiple phone calls with Trump and visits by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, the Kremlin believes meaningful negotiations have yet to begin.
One source added that while Putin respects his past conversations with Trump and values diplomacy, “Russia’s interests come first.”
Since launching the full-scale invasion in February 2022, Russia has taken control of nearly a fifth of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, Luhansk, and significant parts of Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson. In the past three months alone, Russian forces have advanced over 1,400 square kilometers, according to open-source intelligence.
Sources say Putin may seek to conquer more territory, particularly in Dnipropetrovsk, Sumy, and Kharkiv, if Ukraine’s defenses weaken further. “Appetite comes with eating,” one Kremlin insider said, suggesting the Russian campaign will expand unless stopped militarily.
President Zelenskyy has repeatedly stated that Ukraine will never recognize Russia’s territorial claims and reserves the sovereign right to join NATO. His office declined to comment on the recent reports, but Kyiv maintains that Ukrainian troops are holding their ground despite being outnumbered.
Back in Washington, Trump’s administration has characterized the conflict as a proxy war between the U.S. and Russia. His team has reversed course on NATO expansion and floated the possibility of recognizing Russia’s annexation of Crimea, a move that breaks sharply from the Biden administration’s approach.
White House Press Secretary Anna Kelly placed blame squarely on former President Joe Biden for the outbreak of war, while asserting that Trump is working to end it. “President Trump is focused on stopping the killing,” she said, “and Putin will face biting sanctions if he doesn’t agree to a ceasefire.”
But Putin’s terms for peace remain firm: a halt to NATO’s eastward expansion, Ukrainian neutrality, reduced military capabilities for Kyiv, protections for Russian-speaking populations, and recognition of Russia’s territorial gains.
Despite heavy sanctions, Russia’s economy continues to perform better than many analysts predicted. The Kremlin expects 2.5% economic growth in 2025, down from 4.3% last year, and sees oil exports primarily to China and India continuing despite any U.S. penalties.
One Kremlin advisor said, “Even if Washington imposes tariffs on oil buyers, Russia will still find ways to sell to global markets.” Another added, “Putin knows Trump is unpredictable, but he’s careful not to provoke him unnecessarily.”
The White House has floated secondary sanctions on nations trading with Russia and is considering 100% tariffs on Russian goods. Yet despite the threats, Putin’s focus remains squarely on the battlefield and on the belief that time, and attrition, are on his side.
The war in Ukraine shows no signs of ending soon. With escalating stakes and deepening divides between Moscow and Washington, global security hangs in the balance. As one Kremlin source warned, “The crisis is far from over and the war will continue.”
Reporting by Lisa Lomami.
