Putin’s inner circle is talking about a deadlock in the war against Ukraine — Bloomberg

Some high-ranking russian officials are openly acknowledging that the war against Ukraine has reached a deadlock and that there is currently no clear or understandable scenario for how it will end, according to Bloomberg, citing its own sources.

As noted, Ukraine and its Western allies are increasingly convinced that russia’s offensive potential is being exhausted. The Armed Forces of Ukraine have managed to stabilize the front line and stop another wave of offensive operations by the occupation forces.

The publication notes that drones have become the key factor that changed the course of hostilities:

The large-scale and effective use of drones is helping the Armed Forces of Ukraine compensate for a shortage of personnel and inflict heavy losses on the enemy.

Regular Ukrainian drone attacks on rear facilities and directly on moscow have brought the war onto the aggressor’s territory.

European diplomats describe the mood in the russian capital as “gloomy”. Along with declining economic indicators and tighter internet restrictions, this is leading to deep war fatigue among ordinary russians and fueling internal criticism of vladimir putin.

According to Bloomberg’s sources, the russian dictator is seeking to end the war before the end of this year, but only on terms that he can present to the population as a victory. This involves the full capture of Donbas and the signing of a security agreement with Europe that would de facto legitimize the annexation of Ukrainian territories.

Despite russia’s obvious problems, the situation remains difficult for Ukraine as well. Kyiv has not yet achieved its main strategic goals — deoccupying most of its territories or reaching an acceptable peace agreement.

Diplomatic efforts that were being pursued under U.S. auspices are also currently at a standstill. At the same time, the administration of Donald Trump has made it clear to the European Union that it does not oppose parallel negotiations between European leaders and the kremlin.