The West stated that Moscow and Kyiv are improving their negotiating positions through escalation

Ahead of the inauguration of the elected U.S. President Donald Trump, Russia and Ukraine have intensified mutual strikes. Western analysts believe this could be an attempt by both sides to improve their positions in the upcoming negotiations.

This was reported by The New York Times.

“In recent weeks, Russia and Ukraine have been escalating a cycle of strikes against each other. Some analysts say both sides are also trying to improve their negotiating positions ahead of Trump’s inauguration,” the article states.

On November 19, Russian President Vladimir Putin approved a new nuclear doctrine. According to it, Moscow may use nuclear weapons if weapons of mass destruction are used against it or its allies, as well as in the case of aggression against Russia and Belarus using conventional weapons that create a critical threat to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the states.

Earlier, the chairman of the Federation Council’s Committee on Foreign Affairs, Grigory Karasin, stated that Russia’s readiness to use the “Oreshnik” ballistic missile against new targets in Ukrainian territory should be seen as a willingness to respond to any aggression against Moscow.

In turn, Putin previously stated that the Russian Ministry of Defense, in cooperation with the General Staff, is looking for suitable targets in Ukraine for a strike with the “Oreshnik” missile.