Russia Plans Broad Escalation in Ukraine Amid Negotiation Collapse

Russia is preparing for a broad escalation of its military operations against Ukraine, having determined that peace negotiations have effectively collapsed, Bloomberg reported, citing sources close to the Kremlin.

According to three anonymous sources who spoke to the agency due to the sensitivity of the matter, Moscow is considering intensifying the use of conventional ballistic missiles against Kyiv—including strikes on the city center—as well as targeting critical infrastructure and vital facilities in other Ukrainian cities.

The sources stated that all existing negotiation frameworks have practically disintegrated, returning both sides to square one. They added that Russian President Vladimir Putin shows no indication of being prepared to end the war under pressure from Western economic sanctions or Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries and logistics networks.

Moscow’s shifting threat assessment

Moscow increasingly views Ukrainian strikes as NATO-backed operations, citing the provision of weapons and intelligence by alliance member states to Kyiv.

Putin recently hinted at the possibility of a significantly larger-scale response, dismissing the impact of Ukrainian attacks on Russia’s economy and warning that Moscow stands ready to strike Russia’s most sensitive sectors.

U.S. mediation efforts stall

American efforts to end the war have failed to produce a breakthrough, with negotiations halted amid U.S. President Donald Trump’s preoccupation with conflict involving Iran.