The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation open a new front: Russia is moving not only in the Donbass - NYT
At the same time, Ukrainian cities suffer powerful combined blows with drones and rockets - one of the largest full -scale war. According to Western experts, Moscow was preparing for this offensive all winter: it has accumulated resources, improved the communications system and tested new methods of use of percussion drones. Although the pace of promotion on the front is slow, experts note that the main purpose of the Kremlin is to strengthen their position during diplomatic negotiations.
Russia is accustomed to combining combat with diplomatic maneuvers to influence the negotiation process. Although the first direct negotiations between representatives of Russia and Ukraine have taken place this year, Moscow has not yet demonstrated any signs of readiness for compromise. Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the war will continue until the "root cause of the conflict" is eliminated - in fact, confirming its harsh conditions for Kiev.
At the same time, former US President Donald Trump, who had previously expressed Putin's support, sharply changed the tone, warning that Russia was "playing with fire" and hinted at the possible imposition of new sanctions. Although Washington's decision to take decisive measures remains uncertain, experts warn that Russia can use this period of active fighting to strengthen its position in the negotiation process.
At the same time, the Kremlin justifies its blows to Ukrainian cities as a response to the attacks of Ukrainian drones in Russian territories. Exacerbation of Russian offensive actions has already caused an increase in the number of casualties among civilians, which causes anger and disappointment in Ukrainian society. As a result, the trust in peace initiatives is rapidly declining. Despite uncertainty about US support, Kyiv actively strengthens partnerships with European countries.
Although there is no breakthrough in the war, a new wave of violence may indicate that Russia is preparing for the decisive stage of the conflict - whether in the battlefield or in negotiations. Despite the restoration of contacts between the parties in Istanbul under the pressure of Washington, the Ukrainian authorities and experts are convinced that the strengthening of Russian attacks indicates that the Kremlin has a real desire to negotiate.
According to them, the main purpose of Moscow is not to diplomatic concessions, but to gain preferences through hostilities. We will remind, on Wednesday, May 28, Russia announced the second round of direct negotiations with Ukraine, which can take place in Istanbul on Monday, June 2. Focus found out what issues could be discussed on June 2 during the second round of peace talks in Istanbul between Ukrainian and Russian delegations, and how realistic it is to implement them.