Russia is "getting ready new offensive operations" in its full-scale warfare in opposition to Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky mentioned on Might 26, following an intelligence briefing.
Kyiv has beforehand warned about the specter of a brand new main Russian offensive concentrating on Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv and Sumy oblasts this spring and summer time. Whereas Russia has made solely minimal territorial beneficial properties at the price of heavy losses over the past a number of months, Moscow has doubled down on its maximalist aims in current peace talks.
Ukrainian intelligence stories verify that Russia shouldn’t be significantly fascinated with a peace settlement, Zelensky mentioned in his night handle on Might 26.
"We will see from the knowledge that our intelligence is gathering and from open information that (Russian President Vladimir) Putin and his entourage haven’t any plans to finish the warfare — there is no such thing as a proof that they’re significantly contemplating peace and that they’re significantly contemplating diplomacy," he mentioned.
"Quite the opposite, there’s a whole lot of proof that they’re getting ready new offensive operations."
The intelligence businesses of Ukraine's allies have doubtless seen the identical proof, Zelensky mentioned. He urged associate nations to use "applicable joint stress" on Moscow in response.
The Kyiv IndependentKI Insights
Zelensky's newest remarks come after three nights of relentless Russian aerial assaults in opposition to Ukrainian cities — launched whereas the Kremlin drags its ft in delivering the phrases of its proposed "memorandum" on a doable future peace settlement.
The memorandum was Putin's counteroffer after he once more rejected a ceasefire in a two-hour telephone name with U.S. President Donald Trump on Might 19. Russia has nonetheless not delivered the doc presenting its settlement phrases.
International Minister Sergey Lavrov mentioned Russia would solely submit the draft "settlement doc" after Ukraine and Russia concluded their 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner alternate. The swap was accomplished on Might 25.
Zelensky referred to as consideration to Russia's delay in submitting the memorandum.
"They’ve spent greater than per week on this," he mentioned. "They discuss loads about diplomacy. However when within the midst of this, there are fixed Russian strikes, fixed killings, fixed assaults, and preparations for brand spanking new offensives, that is positively a prognosis. Russia deserves full-scale stress — all the things that may be accomplished to restrict their army capabilities."
In accordance with Zelensky, Russia launched over 900 strike drones over the past three days, along with cruise and ballistic missiles. Ukraine is trying to improve its manufacturing of interceptor drones and direct further funding to growing its ballistic missile program, he mentioned.
Officers and specialists instructed the Washington Publish (WP) on Might 24 that Russia doubtless lacks the army functionality to mount an offensive that might efficiently break Ukraine's strains. The decline in Russia's army benefit may make coordinated Western stress on the Kremlin simpler, officers mentioned.
Zelensky urged the U.S. and Europe to enact "new and robust sanctions" in opposition to Moscow to drive Putin to just accept a ceasefire and present "respect" for the diplomatic course of.
Whereas Trump criticized Putin after the newest spherical of large-scale assaults, the U.S. president has a historical past of failing to observe via on threats of sanctions in opposition to Russia.
The Kyiv IndependentAndrea Januta
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