Unfazed by Trump threat, Putin to keep fighting on, may eye more land

President Vladimir Putin intends to keep fighting in Ukraine until the West engages on his terms for peace, unfazed by Donald Trump’s threats of tougher sanctions, and his territorial demands may widen as Russian forces advance, sources close to the Kremlin said.

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Putin believes Russia’s economy and its military are strong enough to weather any additional Western measures, the sources said.

Trump on Monday expressed frustration with Putin’s refusal to agree a ceasefire and announced a wave of weapons supplies to Ukraine, including Patriot surface-to-air missile systems. He also threatened further sanctions on Russia unless a peace deal was reached within 50 days.

The three Russian sources, familiar with top-level Kremlin thinking, said Putin will not stop the war under pressure from the West and believes Russia - which has survived the toughest sanctions imposed by the West — can endure further economic hardship, including threatened US tariffs targeting buyers of Russian oil.

Now, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Tuesday downplayed Trump’s threat to impose 100 per cent tariffs on Russia and its trading partners, asserting that Moscow is well equipped to withstand additional sanctions.

Meanwhile, Ukrainians welcomed US’ pledge of more US-made weapons in their three-year fight against Russia’s invasion, though it is unclear what exactly they will get and how quickly.

Besides, the Kremlin today accused Europe of planning to continue the war against Russia in Ukraine while taking a softer approach towards the US, highlighting Washington’s desire to put an end to fighting.

A source added, “Putin thinks no one has seriously engaged with him on the details of peace in Ukraine — including the Americans — so he will continue until he gets what he wants.”

Putin’s conditions for peace include a legally binding pledge that NATO will not expand eastwards, Ukrainian neutrality and limits on its armed forces, protection for Russian speakers who live there, and acceptance of Russia’s territorial gains, the sources said.

He is also willing to discuss a security guarantee for Ukraine involving major powers, though it is far from clear how this would work, the sources said. Zelenskyy has said Ukraine will never recognise Russian control over its annexed regions.