New Russian Strikes on Ukraine Following Putin–Trump Meeting

According to Rokna. citind Bloomberg outlets, during discussions with his U.S. counterpart, Putin became convinced that intensifying Russia’s offensive against Ukraine would not prompt a tangible reaction from the White House.

The report highlights that from Moscow’s perspective, stepping up military operations is seen as the most effective way to pressure Kyiv into accepting Russian terms—a move that, the Kremlin believes, will not elicit strong measures from Trump.

Citing sources close to the Kremlin, Bloomberg noted that after the Alaska summit with Trump, Putin determined that the United States would not intervene in any meaningful way. Consequently, Russia has intensified its attacks on Ukraine, with a particular focus on targeting the country’s energy infrastructure.

During the Alaska talks, Putin reportedly proposed that if Kyiv ceded certain eastern territories, the current line of contact in southern Ukraine could be consolidated. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, however, rejected the proposal.

Trump, for his part, expressed dissatisfaction with Putin’s approach and raised the possibility of tougher sanctions against Moscow. Nonetheless, he stressed that European allies should act first with concrete measures—such as imposing tariffs on China and India for purchasing Russian gas—before Washington takes additional steps.

Bloomberg underscored that Russian aerial assaults have surged since the Alaska meeting. According to data from Ukraine’s Air Force, drone and missile strikes have risen by approximately 46 percent. Zelensky stated that in September alone, Russia launched 3,500 drones, nearly 190 missiles, and more than 2,500 bombs.

Analyst Vita Spivak of Gatehouse Advisory Partners in London argued that Putin’s objective is to increase his bargaining leverage in upcoming negotiations. “Putin wants to demonstrate to Trump and the Europeans that he retains the capacity to escalate the crisis,” she said.

At the same time, Nikolai Petrov, a researcher at the New Eurasia Strategy Center, asserted that due to Russia’s battlefield setbacks, Putin has resorted to “nuclear blackmail and psychological pressure” through the intensification of large-scale bombardments.