Russian President Vladimir Putin does not want peace. Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy states that current communication between the US and Russia resembles a “warm conversation,” which only reinforces the Russian ruler’s confidence, Newsmax reports. 

“I don’t think this can stop Putin. On the contrary, he enjoys it. I believe the tone must change. Putin must clearly understand that America will continue to support Ukraine, with sanctions and military assistance,” Zelenskyy emphasizes.

According to him, Putin is currently trying to deceive Donald Trump by pretending to show a willingness for peace, not to end the war, but to avoid new sanctions.

“Putin doesn’t want to end the war. But he needs to show Trump something positive to dodge sanctions,” the Ukrainian president continues.

Zelenskyy also stresses that Russian society has become radicalized by propaganda and that Russia’s military-industrial complex receives around $300 billion annually.

“It’s like a high-speed train with no one at the controls,” he compares.

He acknowledges that even if Trump manages to bring Putin to the negotiating table, it would only be a partial victory. The aggression, he warns, may return in another form.

“Either it will come back later, or the target of aggression will change,” the Ukrainian president adds.

Earlier, the US attempted to block European efforts to cut the G7 price cap on Russian oil from $60 to $45 per barrel, frustrating EU and UK attempts to ramp up pressure on Moscow’s war financing. 

War intensifies amid Russia’s summer offensive. Ukraine has spotted a massive redeployment of Russian self-propelled artillery and air defense systems to Sumy Oblast. 

Ukrainian forces have recorded a large-scale transfer of Russian military equipment from Crimea and Kherson towards Sumy Oblast. According to Petro Andriushchenko, head of the Occupation Studies Center, this is the largest movement of weaponry in the past six months.

“More than 10 self-propelled artillery systems, air defense systems, and convoys of over 40 trucks carrying ammunition and personnel,” Andriushchenko says.

The equipment is being loaded onto trains and sent to Russia’s Kursk Oblast, effectively heading to Sumy. The Russians are now stationed approximately 25-30 km from it. If they reach the city’s border, they will use artillery to strike it. 

Special attention is drawn to the military equipment markings, which, with their dominant tactical symbol of a triangle within a triangle, indicate reinforcement of this specific direction.

Amid this buildup, Sumy faces heavy drone attacks. Konotop mayor Artem Semenikhin stated that on 8 June, the region endured the most powerful drone assault since the war began: “The entire sky over the region turned red with targets.”