Trump’s disappointment did not stop Putin: Russia is preparing a new phase of the war
Russia's President Vladimir Putin attends a plenary session of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) in Saint Petersburg, Russia, June 20, 2025. REUTERS/Anton Vaganov
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is convinced that the Russian army is gradually gaining an advantage on the front, and in the near future the situation on the battlefield may change dramatically in his favor.
This was reported by The New York Times, citing its own sources close to the Kremlin.
Putin, according to the newspaper’s interlocutors, sees no point in stopping the offensive without significant concessions from Ukraine. He believes that Ukrainian defenses are weakened and could suffer a serious breakthrough in the coming months.
Despite frequent conversations with Putin, US President Donald Trump has not taken decisive steps to deter the aggressor: he has not provided large-scale aid to Ukraine, has not increased sanctions pressure, or taken other measures to influence Moscow. Putin has spoken to Trump by phone six times in the past six months.
Although Trump has recently begun to express irritation with the Russian leader’s actions, there has been no major change in his approach. He has called Putin’s words “nonsense,” although he has admitted that he is considering imposing new restrictions on Russia.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham reported that Trump agreed to support a bill on a 500% tariff for countries that purchase Russian energy: “He said it was time to act – so we are starting.”
Putin, according to the publication’s sources, understands that Trump can change his position at any time, but believes that the risk is worth it. His main goal is to force Ukraine to surrender, and only then to negotiate the lifting of sanctions. The Kremlin does not rule out that after the end of hostilities, they will be able to agree with Trump to ease the pressure.
According to estimates by the analytical project DeepState, Russian troops are currently advancing faster than at any time since the fall of 2024. After pushing Ukrainian forces out of part of the Kursk region, the occupiers have concentrated up to 50,000 troops in the direction of the Sumy region. The offensive in this direction has now slowed down, but the situation in the Donbas remains critical.
Russian forces have surrounded Kostyantynivka, a key logistical hub for the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Donetsk region, on three sides. Its loss could open the way to Druzhkivka, Kramatorsk, and Sloviansk.
The Russian army is actively using the latest optically guided drones, which are not susceptible to electronic warfare (EW) jamming. This allows them to strike both the front line and the rear — supply routes, warehouses, and reinforcements.
Some Russian units have already reached the border with the Dnipropetrovsk region, which creates additional challenges for the Ukrainian defense forces.
Despite active mobilization and high payments, the pace of replenishment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine remains slow. At the same time, the Russian army not only maintains its strength, but also gradually increases it.
Socio-economic analyst Sergei Shelin believes that the Kremlin has already “digested” the mobilized and can bring in up to 1.5 million more troops if needed. According to him, this potentially allows Russia to wage war not only throughout 2025, but also next year.
As a reminder, US House Speaker Mike Johnson said that Putin does not want to seriously discuss peace with Ukraine. Therefore, the US should send him a signal.
As reported, the Russians in Zaporizhia are regrouping to resume assaults in the Orikhiv, Hulyaipil, and Prydniprov directions.
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