US intel indicates Putin's war aims in Ukraine are unchanged

Saturday, December 20, 2025

U.S. intelligence reports continue to warn that Russian President Vladimir Putin intends to capture all of Ukraine and reclaim parts of Europe that belonged to the former Soviet empire, six sources familiar with U.S. intelligence said, even as negotiators seek an end to the war that would leave Russia with far less territory.

Posted by lamplighter at 02:16 PM | 4 COMMENTS | permalink | Comment on This Entry |

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... The reports present a starkly different picture from that painted by U.S. President Donald Trump and his Ukraine peace negotiators, who have said Putin wants to end the conflict. The most recent of the reports dates from late September, according to one of the sources.

The intelligence also contradicts the Russian leader's denials that he is a threat to Europe.

The U.S. findings have been consistent since Putin launched his full-scale invasion in 2022. They largely align with the views of European leaders and spy agencies that he covets all of Ukraine and territories of former Soviet bloc states, including members of the NATO alliance, according to the sources.

"The intelligence has always been that Putin wants more," Mike Quigley, a Democratic member of the House Intelligence Committee, said in a Reuters interview. "The Europeans are convinced of it. The Poles are absolutely convinced of it. The Baltics think they're first." ...

#1 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-12-20 02:17 PM | Reply

His comments the other day confirmed his goal to restore as many of the old Soviet Union states as he can... because to him that is 'in the interests of Russia', which is his bottom line.

It's never been about Ukraine alone, it's always been about restoring the SU... so all the talk about Nazis and minerals and NATO has always been been total BS.

#2 | Posted by Corky at 2025-12-20 03:04 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

@#2 ... It's never been about Ukraine alone, it's always been about restoring the SU.. ...

Yup.

#3 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-12-20 03:38 PM | Reply

"It's never been about Ukraine alone, it's always been about restoring the SU.

I took Russian in high school in the 70s (before the breakup), and our teacher had natives from Ukraine visit the class. When referred to as "Russians", they quickly and sternly corrected us. They were Soviets not Russians.

#4 | Posted by Danforth at 2025-12-20 04:13 PM | Reply