Russia May Escalate Strikes on Ukraine, Kremlin Sources Say
Russia is considering intensifying ballistic missile attacks on Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine amid stalled peace negotiations, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday, Aug. 26, citing Kremlin-linked sources. Moscow reportedly sees further escalation as one of its few remaining ways to pursue its military aims.
Russian authorities are reportedly considering escalating attacks on Kyiv, including the city's center, after concluding that peace talks have "reached a dead end," according to anonymous sources close to the Kremlin. Moscow is also contemplating intensifying conventional ballistic missile strikes on various Ukrainian infrastructure targets.
All peace negotiations have apparently failed, leaving both nations back at the starting point, with Russia increasingly viewing Ukrainian assaults as NATO actions due to ally support for Kyiv in terms of weapons and intelligence.
Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs cautioned that NATO must remain vigilant for worst-case scenarios, describing Russia as dangerous and unpredictable, while EU countries on NATO's eastern border, such as the Baltic states, are preparing for the possibility of Ukraine's war spilling over into their territory. Bloomberg reports that Russian President Vladimir Putin is unlikely to end the conflict due to EU-imposed sanctions or Ukrainian attacks on energy infrastructure and logistics networks.
Bloomberg sources indicate that Russia now perceives few alternatives to further escalation in its pursuit of military goals, and there is speculation that a visit by US Special Envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff might bring about new proposals. However, expectations of a diplomatic breakthrough during the visit remain low. Russian officials now believe that President Putin may resort to tactical nuclear weapons as a last resort if the situation worsens, given that the only worse outcome for him would be losing the war.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe's recent visit to Moscow, after traveling from Riga, has raised concerns, as Russian authorities have not confirmed the visit or its purpose. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that Putin and Ratcliffe did not meet, though Peskov later confirmed talks between the intelligence services. US President Donald Trump expressed hope that Ratcliffe's visit could yield results in ending Russia's war against Ukraine.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
