Bloomberg: Russia to intensify attacks, war in Ukraine to last into 2027

September 8, 2026 at 10:23 PM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

European and American officials expect Russia's war in Ukraine to continue into 2027 after US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff failed to achieve breakthroughs in Moscow and Kyiv. Russia plans to intensify attacks on Ukraine's energy and heating infrastructure over the winter, Bloomberg reported on September 8. The assessment comes even as Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump held what the Kremlin called a constructive phone call the same day.

Key Facts

European and American officials concluded that Russia's war in Ukraine will continue into 2027, Bloomberg reported on September 8.
US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff failed to achieve significant breakthroughs in negotiations in Moscow and Kyiv.
Russia plans to intensify attacks on Ukraine's energy and heating infrastructure over the next six months to make civilian life unbearable.
Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump held a one-hour phone call on September 8 and agreed to stay in contact.
Trilateral talks between the US, Russia, and Ukraine may resume after Russia's State Duma elections on September 18-20.

Failed Peace Initiative

US President Donald Trump's envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff did not achieve significant breakthroughs during negotiations in Moscow and Kyiv. European officials told Bloomberg that Putin showed no signs of softening his position despite Washington's message that new ideas are needed to restart stalled peace talks. Putin made the American delegation wait until evening before meeting at the Kremlin, forcing Witkoff and Kushner to have a multi-hour lunch with Putin's envoy Kirill Dmitriev at an expensive restaurant in central Moscow. One source said Putin used the visit to project strength domestically ahead of Russia's State Duma elections on September 18-20.

Russia's Winter Offensive Plans

Russia plans to intensify attacks on Ukraine's energy and heating infrastructure over the next six months to make civilian life unbearable, according to a source familiar with the matter. Moscow also intends to escalate hybrid attacks and political interference in Europe to undermine support for Kyiv. US Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby said on September 8 that the US must prepare for a prolonged conflict and Ukraine's needs persisting for months and years.

Diplomatic Outlook

Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov said Putin and Trump held a constructive and sufficiently open discussion about the envoys' visit during a one-hour phone call on September 8. The two leaders agreed to stay in contact, according to Ushakov. Bloomberg sources said trilateral talks between US, Russian, and Ukrainian representatives may resume after Russia's State Duma elections, though such discussions are unlikely to significantly affect the peace process.