According to the Financial Times, Russian President Vladimir Putin views the ongoing airstrikes against Ukraine as retaliation for Ukrainian drone attacks on oil refineries and commercial depots within Russia. As reported by a publication source, the Kremlin also blames Kyiv for disrupting preliminary ceasefire agreements. In the same publication, another FT interlocutor quoted Putin: 'I will destroy all your infrastructure until you agree. By next year, Ukraine will have no infrastructure left. All bridges, ports, railways, energy infrastructure, power plants... will be destroyed.'

Threats of Total Destruction and the Winter Campaign

According to FT information, Putin is focused on regaining tactical advantage through a large-scale winter air strike campaign directed primarily at Ukraine's energy infrastructure. One of the two interlocutors involved in informal peace efforts noted that the Kremlin's shift in focus from territorial issues to security guarantees is perceived in Moscow as a tool to drag out negotiations amid the systematic weakening of Ukraine's military positions.

Territorial Demands and Expectations from NATO

According to the FT source, Putin demanded the handover of the remaining territory of the eastern Donbas as a preliminary condition for a ceasefire. At the same time, the same source claims, the Russian leader expected further territorial concessions from Kyiv in exchange for any security guarantees that NATO countries might provide within a potential future agreement.

Abu Dhabi Talks: Participants' Skepticism

Two individuals directly involved in informal peace efforts told the FT that negotiations in Abu Dhabi are unlikely to lead to any substantial ceasefire. According to their assessments, the current dynamic — a combination of threatening statements from Moscow and ongoing strikes — does not create conditions for reaching an agreement in the foreseeable future.

Kyiv's Reaction: Intelligence Reports Preparation of a New Strike

On November 6, 2026, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine has information regarding Russia's preparation of a new massive strike. According to him, intelligence provided data on the upcoming attack targeting energy facilities, bridges across the Dnipro, and civilian infrastructure. The statement came against the background of Putin's quotes reported by the FT and essentially confirms the course described by the Russian leader in closed conversations.

Context: From Territorial Disputes to Infrastructure War

The FT publication records a noticeable shift in the Kremlin's rhetoric and strategy: whereas previously Moscow's central condition remained the issue of borders, threats of total infrastructure destruction and the linking of any negotiations to the transfer of additional territories now come to the fore. Experts cited in the material point out that such tactics allow Russia to conduct military operations and diplomatic consultations simultaneously without bringing either process to completion.