The conflict between Russia and Ukraine will soon enter its third year. If negotiations are envisaged on the West side, Vladimir Putin sets objectives for next year.
For kyiv and its allies, we hope for a ceasefire over Christmas and for peace negotiations to begin between Russia and Ukraine at the start of the year. But for Moscow, it’s a completely different story. Vladimir Putin, who seems to fear Western aid to Ukraine, still aims to annex certain areas, reports the Kyiv Independant.
Clear objectives
The master of the Kremlin also hopes to put an end to the conflict, but not necessarily through diplomacy. “In 2025, Moscow plans to achieve victory in the war”declared Andrei Belousov, Russian Defense Minister, during a meeting on Monday.
Annexation projects are multiplying for the country with the tricolor flag. Indeed, the objectives for 2025 were defined during this meeting: Russia plans “to seize the entire oblasts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia”reports the Ukrainian media.
But it doesn’t stop there. Although Volodymyr Zelensky’s troops are showing some signs of weakness, particularly in the east of the country, Russia is in difficulty in Crimea (territory annexed in 2014). But Putin wants recognition of Crimea and Sevastopol as part of Russia.
The Russian Defense Minister stressed that these projects were already part of the “goals announced by President Vladimir Putin in June”. “As soon as kyiv declares itself ready to make such a decision and begins a real withdrawal of troops, as well as officially abandons its ambitions within NATO, we will immediately cease fire and begin negotiations”the Russian leader then declared.
Hopes for peace in the coming days or weeks are dwindling, as Ukraine and Russia prepare to enter the third year of war, from February 2025.
