NYT: Putin is convinced that Ukraine's defense could collapse in the coming months

Russian dictator Vladimir Putin rejects US President Donald Trump's statements of "disappointment" in him and plans to move forward with new intensity in Ukraine, having already taken into account the possibility of new US pressure. The New York Times writes about this with reference to analysts and people close to the Kremlin.

The Russian dictator is convinced that Russia's battlefield advantage is growing and that Ukraine's defenses could collapse in the coming months, according to two NYT sources close to the Kremlin.

Given Russia's ongoing offensive, they say, Putin believes it is impossible to end the fighting now without significant concessions from Ukraine.

As the NYT writes, as Russia has won "victories" on the battlefield (probably local advances in certain areas at the tactical level – Ed.) and Ukraine has struggled with a shortage of personnel, Mr. Putin's military ambitions have only grown.

As Trump makes clear his frustration with Putin, it has become clearer that the Russian dictator is willing to risk his relationship with the US president to achieve Ukraine's surrender to his demands, the NYT added .

• on July 8, it became known that Washington would supply Ukraine with all the weapons it needed. Trump said that "Putin treats people badly" .
• Putin says a lot of "bullshit" about ending the Russian-Ukrainian war, but his behavior has been meaningless, Trump said.