In the coming weeks, Ukrainian military officials and analysts report that Russian forces are preparing for a new attack aimed at increasing pressure on Kyiv and strengthening their position in negotiations. According to the Associated Press (AP), Russia is planning a multi-vector attack along the entire front line.
Signs of preparation for the attack
According to Ukrainian intelligence, Russian troops are focusing their main attack on the eastern regions of the country. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized on March 27 at a summit in Paris that Russia is preparing for a spring offensive in the Sumy, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia regions. The next day, Zelensky announced that the Ukrainian armed forces are taking measures against an attack directed at the Sumy region. According to him, Russia aims to gain time in negotiations and seize new territories through this attack.
How long could the Russian attack last?
Analyst Alexey Getman believes that Russia's attack could last from 6 to 9 months, essentially throughout 2025. Ukrainian military officials note that Russian forces are increasing the number of attacks to improve their positions and are actively conducting reconnaissance operations to eliminate Ukraine's defense capabilities.
There are also concerns that Russia is planning to redeploy its troops from the Kursk region, where Ukrainian armed forces have withdrawn, to other fronts. According to one Ukrainian commander in Donetsk, the Russian soldiers from this area may be mentally and physically strong due to their previous victories.
Obstacles in negotiations
According to the Associated Press, Russia has rejected the U.S. proposal for a 30-day ceasefire with Ukraine. Additionally, an agreement to cease fire in the Black Sea remains in limbo due to disagreements in negotiations. The Kremlin is conditioning the lifting of sanctions on agricultural product exporters and the reconnection of Rosselkhozbank to the SWIFT system.
Amid escalating military tensions between Ukraine and Russia, Ukrainian forces continue to prepare against a new attack. Analysts note that the Kremlin's goal is to seize Ukrainian territories and gain an advantage in negotiations. The form of the attack and its consequences remain uncertain for now.
