This information is reported by NBC News, citing four representatives of Western intelligence and two officials from the U.S. Congress.
According to six sources from the channel, Putin still believes he can "wait out" Ukraine and Europe in order to ultimately gain control over all Ukrainian territories.
One of the Western intelligence representatives pointed out that Putin thinks he is winning, and the Russian losses on the battlefield do not pressure him.
At the same time, six officials are confident that Putin might agree to a ceasefire to restore the strength of the Russian army, as well as to see what concessions the West and Ukraine are willing to make. Additionally, NBC News sources suggest that the Russian leader is eager to return to the global stage.
Intelligence representatives also stated that Putin has no plans to withdraw his troops from Ukraine or from the borders in the western part of Russia.
On February 12, U.S. President Donald Trump spoke by phone with Russian leader Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky.
Trump stated that he and Putin agreed that they want to "stop millions of deaths."
On February 18, a meeting took place in the capital of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, between American and Russian delegations. After the talks, the Russians claimed that they went "fairly well" and that the teams from Russia and the U.S. would "in due time" begin contacts regarding Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized the negotiations in Saudi Arabia, noting that they had "the same mood" as the Russian ultimatum at the beginning of the full-scale invasion.
Zelensky emphasized that Putin is eager to initiate talks to obtain sanctions relief and regroup.