Putin Doesn't Want the War to End Before Winter — Senator Tillis
Russian President Vladimir Putin is not interested in ending hostilities before winter sets in. The Kremlin may be counting on the cold season to give Russia additional opportunities to put pressure on Ukraine.
U.S. Senator Tom Tillis made this statement to reporters during a briefing in Kyiv.
According to the senator, the Russian leader finds himself in a difficult situation. The Russian economy is suffering from the consequences of the war, and to replenish its army, the Kremlin has to spend significant funds to recruit contract soldiers. At the same time, Russia may be forced to resort to a new wave of forced mobilization in the future.
Tillis believes that Moscow may try to use the winter as a tool of war. In particular, he expects new attacks on Ukraine’s energy and civilian infrastructure to leave the population without heat and hot water.
The senator also does not find the Kremlin’s statements about its readiness for peace convincing. He noted that after Donald Trump’s meeting with Putin in Alaska, Russia continued to attack Ukraine rather than genuinely de-escalating tensions.
At the same time, Tillis is convinced that the Russian dictator does not have as strong a negotiating position as it might seem. In his view, thanks to the resistance of its people and the actions of the Armed Forces, Ukraine remains, at the very least, an equal party to the negotiations.
The U.S. senator singled out the Ukrainian military for special mention. He stated that the Ukrainian Armed Forces have demonstrated a significantly greater ability to withstand the Russian army than many had expected before the start of the full-scale invasion.
Source: Tom Tillis
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has not yet made a decision regarding his participation in the G20 summit and, accordingly, regarding a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
As a reminder, Zelenskyy effectively proposed to the Kremlin leader that they hold a face-to-face meeting specifically during the G20 summit in December 2026.
U.S. President Donald Trump has not yet decided whether to invite Russia to the G20 summit, which will take place on December 14–15, 2026, in Miami.
