
In Velyka Novosilka, the southern part of Ukraine’s defenses has been cut off from the northern part, according to a military source
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January 24, 2025Russia is merely “shrugging off” threats from U.S. President Donald Trump to impose new sanctions and is prepared to continue fighting in Ukraine for at least another year.
This information reported according to an article in “The Wall Street Journal”.
The Kremlin believes it has successfully weathered sanctions and is confident that Moscow can sustain the conflict for at least another year, as Russians continue to enlist on the front lines.
On the battlefield, Russia reportedly holds an advantage, slowly advancing toward Ukraine’s key logistical hubs.
“We have some imbalance and inflation, but the situation is not dire enough to demand a cessation of all military actions… We are able to insist on our demands. And if Ukraine’s defense continues to collapse as it is now, it would be wiser for the other side to agree to our terms,” said Vasily Kashin, a Russian expert at the Higher School of Economics.
According to the article, Trump’s threats appear insufficient to compel Russia to change its key demands, which include:
- Official recognition of territories captured by Russia as part of its sovereign land,
- Cutting Ukraine’s ties with NATO,
- A significant reduction of Ukraine’s armed forces.
“Putin perceives these statements as part of political theater. He doesn’t take them seriously… He is prepared for any scenario and harbors no illusions that a deal will be reached quickly,” said Tatiana Stanovaya, a political analyst with the Carnegie Endowment.
According to Stanovaya, Putin’s ideal outcome would be a large-scale geopolitical agreement, akin to the Yalta Conference where British, American, and Soviet leaders divided Eastern Europe into Soviet and Western spheres of influence at the end of World War II.
“Of course, Putin wants to end the war, but only on Russian terms. For him, the war in Ukraine is a way to bring the West to the negotiating table for a Yalta 2.0,” Stanovaya explained.
Analysts suggest Putin is aiming for a summit with Trump, where the two leaders could negotiate a settlement favorable to Moscow while sidelining Ukraine’s leadership, which Putin dismisses as illegitimate.
Experts believe that Trump’s threat to impose new sanctions reflects his understanding that the negotiations could be protracted. However, this approach risks alienating Russia from talks.
“Russians always prefer direct communication; the Kremlin was already annoyed by Trump’s style during his first term… This is not how you should engage with Russians,” said Oleg Ignatov, an analyst with the International Crisis Group, which focuses on conflict resolution.