U.S. intelligence reports continue to warn that Russian President Vladimir Putin has not abandoned his goal of conquering all of Ukraine and expanding Russian influence into European territories that once belonged to the Soviet Union, including countries that are now members of NATO.
These assessments contradict statements by U.S. President Donald Trump and his negotiators, who have claimed that the Kremlin seeks to end the war that began with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine nearly four years ago.
The U.S. intelligence reports—most recently compiled in September—also reject Moscow’s claims that Russia poses no threat to Europe. According to these assessments, the countries most immediately at risk would be the Baltic states: Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
The head of Ukraine’s military intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, has stated that Moscow is accelerating its strategic plans.
“According to the original plan, Russia was supposed to be ready for action by 2030. Now the deadlines have been shortened to 2027,” he said, adding that the Kremlin views itself as a power that survives only through continuous expansion of its influence.
