Russia is considering intensifying ballistic missile attacks on Kyiv, including the city center, as well as infrastructure in other Ukrainian cities, Bloomberg reported, citing sources close to the Kremlin. Negotiations to end the war have effectively collapsed and Moscow sees little prospect of a diplomatic breakthrough, according to the sources.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has no intention of ending the war under pressure from sanctions or Ukrainian attacks on refineries and logistics networks, the sources said. Moscow increasingly views such attacks as originating from NATO member states because they provide Kyiv with weapons and intelligence.

At the same time, the Kremlin is no longer relying on an alleged understanding reached between Putin and US President Donald Trump at last year’s summit in Alaska. Part of the supposed understanding involved pressuring Ukraine to cede the Donetsk region, a demand Kyiv rejects.

On Thursday, Russia launched a large-scale attack on Kyiv, five other cities and port infrastructure.

According to the sources, there is also growing discussion in Moscow about the possible use of tactical nuclear weapons. However, there is no indication that Russia is preparing to take such a step, and experts assess the likelihood as extremely low.

(Bloomberg, bak)