Bloomberg: Kremlin sources say Putin is preparing to escalate the Ukraine war
Kremlin-linked sources told Bloomberg that Russia is planning intensified strikes on Ukraine after concluding peace talks have failed, and a growing number of Russian officials believe the escalation could eventually lead to the use of a tactical nuclear weapon.
Sources close to the Kremlin told Bloomberg that Russia is preparing to escalate its attacks on Ukraine after concluding that the peace negotiation process has reached a dead end. According to these sources, Russia is considering stepped-up strikes using conventional ballistic missiles against Kyiv, including the city center, as well as against infrastructure in other Ukrainian cities.
The sources say Russian President Vladimir Putin will not halt the war under pressure from economic sanctions or from Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries and logistics networks. Moscow increasingly regards Ukraine's strikes as attacks carried out by NATO member states, since alliance members supply Kyiv with weapons and intelligence.
Talks at a standstill
The sources say every channel for peace negotiations has broken down, leaving both warring sides back where they started. The Kremlin reportedly believes it has already made concessions during the war, and that each concession weakened Russia's position. With diplomacy stalled, Moscow sees few options for achieving its military objectives besides further escalation.
The intensifying Ukrainian strikes have led a growing number of Russian officials to believe Putin could eventually take the extreme step of using tactical nuclear weapons in Ukraine. However, Bloomberg notes there are no signs Russia is actually preparing to use such weapons — in the past, Russia has repeatedly issued nuclear threats in an apparent effort to intimidate Ukraine's Western allies.
Alexander Gabuev, director of the Berlin-based Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, told Bloomberg that the risk of Moscow using tactical nuclear weapons remains extremely low. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov did not respond to a request for comment.
