The US intelligence expects that Ukraine's hostilities will develop at a slower pace over the next few months. Avril Haines, director of national intelligence, said there was no evidence that Ukraine's will to resist Russia has diminished despite Moscow's crippling attacks on the Ukrainian power grid during the coming winter.
The U.S. based Institute for the Study of War ISW doesn't assess the fighting in Ukraine will halt due to winter weather. The freezing ground provides better conditions for maneuver warfare, especially along the Svatove-Kreminna highway, and will likely increase the fighting over the winter period.
Vladimir Putin is not sincere about the peace talks with Ukraine U.S. Under Secretary for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland said during her visit to Kyiv.
She told reporters that diplomacy is obviously everyone's goal but you have to have a willing partner. And it is very clear whether it s the energy attacks, whether it is the rhetoric from the Kremlin and the general attitude that Putin is not sincere or ready for that, Newland said.
The diplomat told reporters that Moscow had resorted to attacking Ukrainian civilian infrastructure after receiving a strong signal from the world that the consequences for Russia would be severe if it used nuclear weapons in the war.