A Ukrainian military officer informed U.S. officials and lawmakers on Wednesday that Russian forces are preparing for significant advances next year, including an objective to sever Ukraine’s access to the Black Sea. This warning comes as Kyiv intensifies its calls for increased pressure against Moscow.
The senior Ukrainian delegation’s visit to Washington coincided with President Donald Trump’s announcement that his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, had cautioned him via telephone about major retaliation following a daring Ukrainian drone strike deep within Russia.
Colonel Pavlo Palisa, who served on the frontlines before being appointed deputy head of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s office in November, presented what he asserted were findings from Ukrainian military intelligence. Speaking to reporters after briefing U.S. lawmakers and officials, Palisa stated that Russia aims to fully seize Donetsk and Lugansk – two of the four regions Russia claims to have annexed, and which are central to a Russian proposal Ukraine has termed an ultimatum – by the end of September.
By the close of the year, Russia intends to establish a buffer zone along the Ukraine-Russia border, Palisa added. “It’s interesting, but they have plans even for 2026. The plan for next year is to occupy the whole part of Ukraine which is situated on the left bank of the Dnipro River,” he claimed. The ultimate goal, he specified, is to “occupy Odessa region and Mykolaiv region, to cut Ukraine’s access to the Black Sea.” Palisa did not elaborate on the specific sources of his assertions.
The Black Sea holds critical military and economic importance for Ukraine and serves as a major route for grain shipments to developing nations. The vast Dnipro River, which flows through the capital Kyiv and empties into the Black Sea, effectively bisects Ukraine, a nation whose historical legitimacy has been questioned by Putin.
Palisa asserted that the purported intelligence findings on Russia revealed “what they think in reality.” “Unfortunately, they are not speaking about peace. They are preparing for war,” he stated.
Andriy Yermak, a top aide to President Zelensky who led the delegation to Washington, urged U.S. lawmakers to advance a new sanctions bill to “increase the pressure on Russia.” “It’s necessary to create the right atmosphere that Russia will go to negotiation – but go not to make a show, but concrete and real negotiation,” Yermak emphasized.
Yermak also met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who has repeatedly warned that President Trump – who took office pledging a swift end to the conflict and briefly suspended support for Ukraine – is growing impatient with Putin.
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