Despite growing international pressure, President Vladimir Putin appears determined to keep advancing in Ukraine until the West negotiates on his terms, according to three Kremlin-linked sources. Unmoved by former U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats of fresh sanctions and military aid to Kyiv, Putin believes Russia can withstand further economic strain and is prepared to expand territorial gains if the war drags on.
Since launching the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Putin has consistently signaled that his broader goals outweigh potential economic losses. Sources familiar with Kremlin thinking reveal that Putin feels the West — including Trump’s administration — has not genuinely discussed a detailed peace framework. As a result, he plans to press ahead, believing Russia’s economy and defense industry can absorb new Western measures.
Trump, frustrated by Putin’s refusal to accept a ceasefire, recently announced a new wave of arms deliveries to Ukraine, including Patriot missile systems, and warned of further sanctions if no peace deal emerges within 50 days. But Russian insiders say Putin remains unmoved. “He thinks no one has engaged with him seriously,” one source told Reuters anonymously. “So he will continue until he gets what he wants.”
Despite multiple calls between Trump and Putin and visits by U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, Moscow believes these contacts never led to meaningful negotiation. “Putin values ties with Trump but prioritizes Russia’s interests,” the source added.
The Kremlin’s conditions for peace remain unchanged: a legal guarantee against NATO’s eastward expansion, Ukrainian neutrality with limits on its military, safeguards for Russian-speaking populations, and formal recognition of Russian territorial control. While open to discussions about security guarantees for Ukraine, it remains unclear how such a framework would work.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy firmly rejects these demands, insisting Kyiv will never recognize Russia’s claims and retains the sovereign right to decide on NATO membership. Meanwhile, Trump’s administration has shifted U.S. policy, describing the war as a deadly proxy conflict and suggesting possible recognition of Russia’s annexation of Crimea.
As the war enters its fourth year, Russia currently occupies about one-fifth of Ukraine’s territory, including Crimea and large parts of eastern regions like Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia. According to the DeepStateMap, Russia has advanced roughly 1,415 square kilometers in the past three months alone. “Appetite comes with eating,” said one source, hinting that Moscow could aim for even more territory if Ukrainian defenses weaken. Another source warned that Russia might halt once it solidifies its hold over the east, unless Ukraine collapses, which could prompt moves to seize parts of Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, and Sumy.
The economic consequences remain serious, but the Kremlin appears prepared. Despite sweeping Western sanctions, Russia’s $2 trillion economy grew by 4.3% last year, and government forecasts project a moderate slowdown to 2.5% in 2025. Even with Trump threatening 100% tariffs on Russian goods and potential secondary sanctions targeting China and India (Russia’s biggest oil buyers), insiders say Moscow will likely find alternative markets.
Putin, the sources suggest, views the conflict as part of a historic clash over Moscow’s sphere of influence, accusing the West of humiliating Russia after the Soviet Union’s collapse by expanding NATO. While acknowledging Trump as unpredictable, Kremlin strategists see little real leverage from Washington and remain focused on battlefield gains.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces continue to resist. Though outnumbered, Kyiv’s military leadership reports inflicting heavy casualties on advancing Russian troops. Still, the death toll remains staggering: U.S. estimates suggest 1.2 million people have been injured or killed in the conflict — Europe’s deadliest since World War II.
Looking ahead, experts warn of further escalation. “Russia will act based on Ukraine’s weakness,” said one source. The war, fueled by territorial ambition and global rivalry, shows no sign of ending soon — with Putin determined to keep fighting unless offered a settlement aligned with his vision.
