U.S. reports show Putin Ukraine war aims

U.S. intelligence reports show Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to aim for full control of Ukraine. He also seeks to reclaim territories that once belonged to the former Soviet Union, according to sources familiar with the intelligence. The warning comes as U.S., Ukrainian, and European negotiators meet in Miami to discuss a potential peace plan.

Russia controls about 20% of Ukraine. This includes most of Luhansk and Donetsk in the Donbas region, parts of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson provinces, and the Crimean peninsula. Putin claims these areas as Russian territory. The latest U.S. intelligence, dated late September, contradicts statements from former U.S. President Donald Trump and his Ukraine peace team, who have said Putin wants to end the war.

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Negotiators led by Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and real estate developer Steve Witkoff have been discussing a 20-point plan with Ukrainian, Russian, and European officials. Key issues include security guarantees for Ukraine and the possible capping of its military forces. Proposals under consideration include deploying European security forces in neighboring countries and within Ukraine, away from frontline positions, as well as U.S.-backed intelligence and air patrol support. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has raised questions about the effectiveness of these guarantees and has ruled out ceding territory.

U.S. officials have stressed that Washington will not force Ukraine to accept any peace deal. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Friday that the United States recognizes Kyiv’s right to make independent decisions regarding the conflict. Meanwhile, European allies of Ukraine have joined the Miami talks to discuss security assurances and measures to prevent further Russian aggression.

Despite ongoing negotiations, Russia has maintained its territorial demands. Putin recently stated that any peace agreement would need to meet Russian conditions, citing territorial gains of approximately 6,000 square kilometers in 2025. Some U.S. negotiators have acknowledged that Russia may insist on retaining control over the four provinces and Crimea, a demand that Kyiv has consistently rejected.

U.S. intelligence sources say Putin’s objectives have remained consistent since the 2022 invasion, largely aligning with European assessments that he seeks to expand Russian influence across former Soviet bloc states. Officials have described the intelligence as a warning that Russia’s ambitions go beyond the territories currently under its control.