War in Ukraine. Analysts: Russia rejects frontline freeze and demands Ukraine’s capitulation

Russia is demonstrating its readiness to escalate the war in Ukraine while declaring its reluctance to freeze the front line or compromise, writes the Institute for Military Research (ISW).

The director of Russia’s foreign intelligence service, Sergei Naryshkin, noted that the Kremlin is ready for negotiations, but categorically rejects any “freezing” of the front line or the creation of demilitarized zones. The only way to achieve peace, he said, is to “remove” the reasons that “forced” Russia to launch a large-scale invasion.

“Such rhetoric shows that Moscow continues to insist on an uncompromising capitulation of Ukraine.” The Kremlin has also repeatedly demanded control of all territories in the four illegally annexed regions, including those now controlled by Ukraine,” ISW writes.

According to ISW’s analytical forecasts, the Russian leadership may be planning a new offensive in the southeastern part of the Dnipropetrovsk region. This region does not belong to the illegally annexed territories, but its capture could support Russia’s long-term goal of fully occupying the Donetsk region.

ISW also recently predicted that Russian military commanders are likely planning to advance into the extreme southeastern part of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast in order to achieve Russia’s long-term goal of capturing all of Donetsk Oblast.