Concerns Rise as Russia Prepares for Renewed Attacks to Bolster Its Diplomatic Stance
Ukraine Warns of Imminent Russian Offensive Aimed at Strengthening Kremlin’s Negotiating Position
Ukrainian officials and military analysts believe Russian forces are preparing for a fresh offensive in the coming weeks to maximize pressure on Ukraine and gain leverage in ceasefire negotiations.
With the spring fighting season approaching, intelligence reports suggest the Kremlin is planning a multi-pronged assault across the 1,000-kilometer front line, particularly in Sumy, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia.
Zelenskyy Accuses Russia of Stalling Talks
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, citing intelligence reports, accused Russia of delaying negotiations while preparing for further territorial gains.
“They’re dragging out the talks and engaging the U.S. in endless discussions about fake conditions just to buy time and seize more land,” Zelenskyy said during a visit to Paris on Thursday.
Two G7 diplomatic officials in Kyiv echoed this assessment, emphasizing that Russia appears to be negotiating from a position of strength.
Putin Confirms Russian Military Gains
Speaking at a forum in Murmansk, Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed his forces hold the strategic advantage.
“On the entire front line, the strategic initiative is completely in the hands of the Russian armed forces. Our troops are moving forward, liberating one settlement after another,” Putin stated.
Ukrainian Military Warns of Prolonged Russian Offensive
Ukrainian military analysts and commanders anticipate a six to nine-month-long Russian offensive, spanning most of 2025.
✔ In the north, Russian and North Korean soldiers have reportedly retaken much of Russia’s Kursk region, where Ukrainian troops had staged incursions last year.
✔ In the east, fighting has escalated in Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia, raising fears that Russia may redirect battle-hardened forces from Kursk to these regions.
✔ In Pokrovsk, a key defensive stronghold in Donetsk, Russia stepped up reconnaissance and armored vehicle deployment, suggesting preparations for an assault on key logistics hubs.
Escalation Along the Front Line
Ukraine has reported an increase in Russian reconnaissance missions, with drone strikes and artillery fire targeting defensive positions.
Ukrainian military spokesman Maj. Viktor Trehubov noted that Russian forces had temporarily slowed attacks in March but have resumed full-scale assaults in mid-March after regrouping.
“The Russians were significantly exhausted over the past two months, but now they’ve recovered and are pushing forward again,” Trehubov said.
Russian Analysts Predict Ukrainian Defenses Could Collapse
Moscow-based military analyst Sergey Poletaev suggested that Ukraine is struggling to prepare for the spring-summer campaign.
“Despite being worn down from combat, the Russian army has a real chance of achieving decisive success in the next six months to a year. This could lead to the collapse of Ukrainian defenses,” he wrote.
Negotiations Show Little Progress Amid Russian Demands
Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts to halt the war have yielded limited progress.
✔ Russia rejected a U.S. proposal for a full 30-day ceasefire.
✔ A tentative agreement for a partial ceasefire on Black Sea shipping routes has been stalled due to Russia’s demands for its state bank to be reconnected to the SWIFT payment system, a condition Ukraine and the EU outright rejected.
Ukrainian troops on the front lines remain skeptical of negotiations.
“No one believes in these talks, but we still hope the conflict will shift in another direction. The situation is not good for us now,” a Ukrainian soldier, identified only by his call sign “Italian,” told reporters.
With Russia advancing and ceasefire talks faltering, Ukraine faces one of its most critical battles yet.
