Putin is preparing for negotiations: The NYT explains the Kremlin's strategy.
The Russian missile strike on Dnipro with an intercontinental ballistic missile is part of a broader strategy by the Kremlin. In this way, Russia aims to prepare for future peace negotiations. Experts believe that such strikes are not so much military actions as political maneuvers that may raise the stakes for Russia in upcoming talks.
This information is reported by The New York Times. According to analysts, both Ukrainian and Russian missile strikes, considering the limited number of available missiles on both sides, cannot significantly alter the course of the war. Instead, these strikes serve an important political function. Putin seeks to gather arguments for future negotiations, where the Kremlin intends to leverage a "strategy of escalation."
The publication states that Ukraine is generally in a "significantly disadvantaged position on the battlefield." The Armed Forces of Ukraine are forced to retreat under constant pressure from Russian troops, adds NYT.
"Ukraine is quickly approaching the point where, if it does not resolve the manpower issue, it will be difficult to defend the entire length of the front," stated the analytical report from the Royal United Services Institute.
At the same time, according to analyst Valentin Badrak from the Center for Russian Studies, Putin's actions are aimed at the long term, particularly influencing the political situation in the U.S. and negotiations with former President Donald Trump.
"Putin's actions are not aimed at today or tomorrow; they are aimed at January 20. He wants to influence Trump and negotiate more," he stated during a broadcast on Ukrainian television.
Trump Plans to Bring Ukraine and Russia to the Negotiating Table
The newly elected 47th President of the United States, Donald Trump, has a clear plan to stop the conflict. In short, to achieve peace, it is necessary to initiate direct negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow. Trump does not aim to prolong the military conflict but seeks to halt it by any means. According to Trump, all subsequent U.S. actions regarding Ukraine should be defined through the negotiation process, which will be initiated and controlled by Washington. This was stated by Michael Woltz.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasizes the importance of ensuring a strong position for Ukraine during any future negotiations. He argues that strengthening both military and diplomatic positions in Kyiv will be the foundation for achieving a just peace. In the event of weakness on the battlefield, Ukraine will not be able to secure favorable conditions for peace talks.
Meanwhile, Russia's ambassador to the UN, Gennady Gatilov, states that Russia is "open to peace negotiations" regarding the war in Ukraine. Moscow considers conditions for starting negotiations involving Trump to be mandatory. According to Gatilov, only after this can further steps be discussed.
In this context, there is also information that supporters of Donald Trump want to purchase "Nord Stream 2". This could facilitate negotiations between Ukraine and Russia.
It is worth noting that American analysts believe that Putin plans to launch another ICBM in the near future. We have also reported on how long it would take for a missile to reach Europe.