Putin may seek to end war against Ukraine by mid-2027 — The Atlantic

Vladimir Putin, the Russian leader, might consider ending the conflict in Ukraine by mid-2027 if Kyiv survives the winter and maintains its long-range strike capabilities within Russia's borders, according to The Atlantic. This decision could be influenced by the potential for a more pro-Ukraine US president to take office in 2029, prompting the Kremlin to seek a favorable deal with the current administration, as reported by The Atlantic on August 27.

Such a deal might include most of Donald Trump's 28-point peace proposal, without necessitating the withdrawal of Ukrainian defense forces from regions currently under Ukrainian sovereignty, as suggested by the article.

However, recent reports from Bloomberg on August 26 indicate that Moscow is not inclined to cease hostilities and is instead preparing to intensify ballistic missile strikes against Kyiv, particularly targeting the city's central district. Sources cited by Bloomberg suggest that Putin is not prepared to halt the invasion despite international economic sanctions and Ukrainian counterattacks against Russian oil refineries.

Furthermore, Ukrainian Air Force Command reported on August 26 that Russian occupiers initiated a large-scale assault on the night of August 26, employing Oniks anti-ship cruise missiles, Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles, and 258 Shahed, Herbera, S8000 Banderol drones, and Parodiya decoy drones. As of 9 a.m. on August 26, Ukrainian air defenses intercepted or neutralized one Oniks missile, seven Iskander-M/KN-23 missiles, three S8000 Banderol drones, and 222 attack UAVs across various operational zones.