Putin kills US peace plan, calls Ukrainian government illegitimate, launches new offensive

In the closing stretch of a long war, military movements are no longer just about territory, but about leverage, perception, and political timing. Every escalation now carries a dual purpose: shaping the battlefield while also manipulating diplomacy, allies, and public opinion. Russia’s war effort, strained by losses and economic pressure, has become increasingly dependent on coercion, forced mobilization, and symbolic shows of strength. At the same time, international attempts to reopen negotiations have created a new arena for deception, where the appearance of compromise can be more useful than compromise itself. For the Kremlin, peace is no longer a solution but a threat to internal stability and regime survival. What is unfolding in eastern Ukraine must therefore be understood not as a final push for land, but as part of a broader strategy to control the future political outcome of the war.

‍