West now expects war in Ukraine to continue into 2027, Bloomberg reports
Photo: US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner (Getty Images)
Recent talks between US representatives and Russia and Ukraine failed to produce a breakthrough, prompting Washington and Europe to prepare for the war to continue into 2027, Bloomberg reports.
According to European officials familiar with the situation, Russian leader Vladimir Putin has shown no willingness to soften his position.
Over the weekend, US President Donald Trump’s special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner visited Moscow and Kyiv. In the Russian capital, they held talks with Putin before traveling to Ukraine for a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. However, the contacts failed to produce any significant breakthrough.
What scenario is Russia preparing for
One Bloomberg source said Moscow’s plan for the next six months could involve intensifying strikes on Ukraine’s energy and heating infrastructure to make life as difficult as possible for the civilian population, the source said.
At the same time, the Kremlin could step up hybrid attacks and political interference in European countries in an attempt to weaken support for Ukraine.
According to the outlet, Putin plans to continue the war even after talks with Witkoff and Kushner. One source believes the Russian leader expects to improve Moscow’s position by next spring while keeping the Russian economy above water despite its growing problems.
Another source suggested that serious negotiations on ending the war are unlikely to take place at least until next year.
Meanwhile, the US and Europe are already preparing for a possible intensification of Russian attacks. According to sources, Ukraine’s allies should prioritize the supply of interceptors for air defense systems, which would help protect Ukrainian cities and critical infrastructure.
Despite this, following the talks in Kyiv and Moscow, the US side said there had been "substantive progress." The sides also discussed an agreed schedule for additional trilateral negotiations.
Zelenskyy later proposed the UN General Assembly in New York as a possible venue for new talks involving the United States.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry said that a face-to-face meeting between Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump had been tentatively agreed for September.
