Russian President Vladimir Putin intends to seize all of Ukraine and ultimately restore control over parts of Europe that once belonged to the Soviet empire, according to six sources familiar with US intelligence assessments. The findings reportedly concern territories of former Soviet bloc countries, Reuters reports.
Among them are three Baltic states: Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, as well as Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, Albania, and Slovakia.
These conclusions contradict the Kremlin’s public claims that Russia poses no threat to Europe and directly refute Putin’s own denials.
Trump's administration insists on Russia's "peaceful intentions"
Despite these assessments, the Donald Trump administration continues to claim that Russia is interested in peace, even as US intelligence agencies maintain the opposite view.
"The intelligence has always been that Putin wants more," Mike Quigley, a Democratic member of the House Intelligence Committee, said in comments to Reuters.
As a result, a clear contradiction has emerged between US intelligence assessments and the White House's political messaging.
Security guarantees: European forces, limits on Ukraine’s army, and US support
If such intelligence is being announced by the agencies, then question arises, what security guarantees can offer Ukraine's partners.
According to the sources, proposed post-war security guarantees would involve the deployment of primarily European security forces, from countries that may be included in Putin's "wish list", both in countries neighboring Ukraine and on Ukrainian territory, but away from the front line. Their role would be to deter future Russian aggression.
One source said that under these arrangements, the size of Ukraine’s Armed Forces could be capped at 800,000 personnel.
The US would provide intelligence, logistical, and air support, including aerial patrols over Ukraine. The package is expected to require ratification by the US Senate. Meanwhile, the details of the security agreements are still being worked out.
At the same time, the key issue remains unresolved: whether Putin would even agree to such terms, as he has repeatedly rejected the idea of foreign troops being stationed in Ukraine.
