Ukrainian Colonel Pavlo Palisa, who serves as the Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine and is a former commander of the 93rd Separate Mechanized Brigade “Kholodny Yar,” reported during his visit to Washington about the Russian Federation’s preparations for large-scale offensive operations over the next year. According to him, Moscow aims to create a buffer zone along the Ukrainian-Russian border.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Russia’s Strategic Plans: Territorial Capture and Black Sea Blockade
On June 4, the Ukrainian delegation held an analytical briefing in Washington for 23 U.S. Senators, during which they revealed the current situation on the front lines. After the meeting, Palisa told reporters that Russia plans to establish a buffer zone by the end of the year and capture all territory in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions by the end of September. Furthermore, he emphasized that the Russians have already developed plans for 2026, which include the occupation of the entire part of Ukraine on the left bank of the Dnipro River, as well as blocking Ukraine’s access to the Black Sea.
“Interestingly, they even have plans for 2026. The plan for next year involves the occupation of the entire part of Ukraine located on the left bank of the Dnipro River,” he said after the briefing for American lawmakers and officials.
International Community’s Reaction and Frontline Situation
Palisa explained that the information provided is based on analytical conclusions from Ukrainian military intelligence. The delegation is working in Washington at a time when Kyiv is intensifying diplomatic pressure to expand support from the U.S. and partners.
As part of this visit, U.S. President Donald Trump reported a conversation with the Russian leader, during which “Vladimir Putin firmly stated that he would have to respond to the recent attack on airports” in Russia.
President Volodymyr Zelensky noted that such threats demonstrate a sense of impunity on Putin’s part. According to him, since the beginning of the year, Russian forces have carried out nearly 27,700 airstrikes on Ukraine, launched over 11,200 “Shahed” drones and about 9,000 drones of other types, as well as over 700 missiles.
Ukraine insists on an unconditional ceasefire, a position supported by the U.S., which is initiating negotiations for a peaceful settlement. Meanwhile, Moscow is currently refusing to agree to such a condition.
Additionally, U.S. President Donald Trump promised on May 28 that he would have an answer in two weeks regarding whether Russian leader Putin wishes to end the war in Ukraine. At the same time, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev stated on June 3 that Russia views negotiations in Istanbul not as a path to compromise, but as a tool for achieving a swift victory and the destruction of the Ukrainian government.