Putin Sets New Deadline for Full Donetsk Capture by 2026; Military Seeks Extension to 2027

Russian political leadership demands the capture of the entire Donetsk region by the end of 2026, but Russian military commanders are requesting a deadline extension to March 31, 2027. Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin has already postponed his targets for reaching the region's administrative borders 15 times. Ukrainian presidential office head Pavlo Palisa disclosed these details following discussions with military leadership and US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Palisa emphasized that Russian advances come at an extremely high cost, with hundreds of casualties per square kilometer captured. Palisa also addressed Russia's new jet-powered drones, stating they are not original Russian developments but borrowed technology from unnamed partners. Ukraine is developing interceptors against this threat. He stressed that international aid directly correlates with saving Ukrainian military and civilian lives.