Putin steps up brutal attacks on Ukraine, testing Trump's red lines - Bloomberg
Photo: Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump (Getty Images)
Kremlin Chief Vladimir Putin has decided to continue attacking Ukraine's energy and other infrastructure, as US President Donald Trump is unlikely to take significant action, Bloomberg reports.
Why Putin is intensifying attacks
People close to the Kremlin say Putin believes military escalation is the best way to force Ukraine into negotiations on his terms. They add that Trump is unlikely to take meaningful steps to strengthen Kyiv’s defenses.
After the US and Russian leaders met in Alaska, and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy refused to give up territories in eastern Ukraine, Russian forces stepped up attacks on military and civilian targets across the country.
Sources say Putin plans to continue targeting Ukraine's energy grids and other infrastructure. They add that the Alaska talks convinced him that Trump is not interested in intervening in the conflict.
US inaction under Trump
In response to Russia's increased aggression, Trump expressed displeasure this week with Putin's approach. He suggested stronger sanctions against Moscow and its allies to cut off Russia's oil revenues.
At the same time, he insists that European allies of Kyiv take tough measures first, before the US acts.
Trump specifically called on G7 countries to impose tariffs on China and India over their purchases of Russian oil. The European Union is also discussing a new sanctions package and plans to accelerate the phaseout of Russian LNG.
Putin's justification for escalation and next steps
Moscow's recent tactics show how US restraint emboldens the Kremlin. Russia continues a war of attrition aimed at forcing Ukraine to negotiate.
Russian officials believe this strategy could weaken Kyiv's defenses and set the stage for future talks.
Bloomberg notes that in Anchorage, Putin proposed a ceasefire and freezing the frontline in southern Ukraine if Kyiv agreed to give up parts of two eastern regions. Previously, he had demanded that Ukraine limit the size of its armed forces and abandon NATO ambitions.
Since Ukraine rejected these conditions, Putin sees it as justification for escalation, sources close to the Kremlin say.
Two sources also told Bloomberg that Putin is watching Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's campaign in Gaza. He considers it tougher than Russia's war in Ukraine and notes that US and European governments have largely accepted it, which undermines their criticism of Moscow.
Sources indicate that Putin will continue engaging in dialogue with the US, but he will act in accordance with his own interests.
Putin is testing the world's response to attacks on Ukraine
On the night of September 7, Russian forces carried out another coordinated attack on Ukraine. The strikes targeted Kyiv, Sumy, Kremenchuk, Odesa, Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih, and Zaporizhzhia.
That morning, Zelenskyy said Russia had intensified strikes to test whether the world would tolerate such aggression.
Another coordinated strike occurred on the night of September 20. Cities were hit by drones, ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles. The attacks caused damage in Dnipro, Mykolaiv, and other cities. For more details, read RBC-Ukraine's report.
