Soldiers of the Russian forces (Photo: Russian Ministry of Defense).
Germany's Bild newspaper, citing intelligence sources, said Russia is developing a new medium-term operational plan to extend its military campaign in Ukraine for another 36 months with the goal of controlling major cities.
According to Bild , Russia's strategic goals by the end of 2024 include complete control of Donetsk and Lugansk provinces as well as part of Kharkov province, extending to the Oskil River.
German intelligence said Russian forces then plan to take control of key areas in Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk and Kharkov provinces by the end of 2026, including the strategic cities of Kharkov, Dnipro and Zaporizhzhia.
German intelligence reports indicate that Russia has no immediate plans to enter Kherson or Odessa.
Russia wants to control the territories on the left bank of the Dnipro River, seeing the river as a new front in the conflict. The Russian army is said to be ready to suffer large casualties.
The German intelligence report indicates that Moscow expects the West to reduce its support for Ukraine and that the “peace talks” are only meant to simulate a desire for peace. The Kremlin has no intention of a ceasefire, the report says.
Previously, Bild quoted sources as saying that although they declared their support for Ukraine to the end, behind the scenes, the US and Germany wanted to push the government of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to negotiate with Russia.
However, Washington and Berlin do not intend to directly pressure President Zelensky to sit at the negotiating table. Instead, they rely on military aid, specifically providing Kiev with just enough weapons to hold the line but not to create a breakthrough.
Bild 's source added that the West also came up with a plan B in case Moscow and Kiev do not agree to resume negotiations. This plan is to freeze the conflict without any formal agreement between Russia and Ukraine.
The news comes amid speculation that the West is pressuring Ukraine to sit down at the negotiating table with Russia and make certain concessions.
However, Western officials have rejected it and stressed that any peace talks with Moscow depend on Kiev's decision.
President Zelensky also said his administration was not under pressure from any allies to negotiate with Russia.
Last October, President Zelensky signed a decree rejecting negotiations with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.
Ukraine began its counter-offensive in June. However, despite abundant aid from the West, Ukraine has not made any significant progress after more than two months of counter-offensive.
The Washington Post warned that Ukraine’s failure to achieve decisive success on the battlefield has raised concerns that the conflict will become a stalemate and that support for Kiev’s allies will wane. Calls for the US to cut aid to Ukraine will gain momentum, especially as the presidential election draws closer.
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