Bloomberg: Kremlin Waits for Right Moment to Intensify Attacks on Ukraine and Hopes for Eased US Sanctions
Citing its sources, Bloomberg reports that Russia does not want peace with Ukraine and may step up attacks once the US elections end. Moscow also hopes Washington will ease sanctions after the diesel fuel deal.
Russia is likely preparing to intensify its strikes on Ukraine, and the end of the US elections could serve as the starting point. The news agency Bloomberg reported this on 5 November 2026, citing its own sources. According to the agency, the Kremlin is no longer even trying to appear interested in a peace agreement with Kyiv, so Russian military attacks will probably only increase.
Hopes of sanctions relief
Bloomberg reports that Russian President Vladimir Putin and his team have noticed patterns in the behaviour of US President Donald Trump and decided to use them for their own ends. The Kremlin saw this opportunity after an agreement on a diesel fuel deal. Moscow now hopes the United States will lift, or at least soften, the other sanctions imposed on Russia.
Diverting attention from the war
Putin wants to draw Trump's attention away from the war in Ukraine as much as possible. To that end, Putin's adviser Vladimir Medinsky will meet US representatives in Abu Dhabi on 10 and 11 November to discuss options for creating joint US-Russian business ventures. Officially, Medinsky has described the topics as security issues, de-escalation, humanitarian measures and further steps towards peace.
The Iran factor
There is also a possibility that Trump will shift his focus to a conflict with Iran, even without any help from Russia. Emily Ferris, a researcher at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) in London, told Bloomberg that this could jeopardise US military aid to Ukraine. In her view, an argument could emerge that the aid should be used against Iran or to support Israel's air defence.
