European and US officials now expect fighting in Ukraine to last into next year, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter. The assessment came after a September 5-6 visit to Moscow and Kyiv by Donald Trump's special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner produced no significant breakthrough in negotiations.
Russia's plan for the next six months is to intensify strikes on Ukraine's energy and heating infrastructure, one of the agency's sources said. In parallel, the Kremlin intends to ramp up hybrid attacks and political interference in Europe to undermine support for Kyiv.
Bloomberg's interlocutors believe Vladimir Putin is counting on emerging by spring from a stronger position while keeping the Russian economy afloat. Until then, serious negotiations are unlikely, one source stressed. Trilateral contacts between the US, Russia and Ukraine could resume after the State Duma elections scheduled for September 18-20, but they are unlikely to lead to a deal, the agency noted.
Putin used the Americans' visit itself to demonstrate strength, according to one of the agency's sources: the delegation was kept waiting until evening. Witkoff and Kushner spent several hours dining with Kirill Dmitriev, the president's special representative for investment cooperation, at an expensive restaurant in central Moscow. Putin's aide Yuri Ushakov, following a phone conversation with Trump, said Russia has no aggressive plans toward Europe.
In these conditions, Europe will have to find resources for additional deliveries of air defense systems to Ukraine. On Tuesday, Britain announced a support package worth 100 million pounds. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said the country would urgently transfer Patriot missiles to Ukraine from its own stocks, calling preparations for Ukraine's winter the highest priority.