Russia’s initial intention has changed.It is clear that Russia initially wanted to fight Ukraine because Ukraine wanted to join NATO and posed a security threat to Russia.But the reality is that Russia, after achieving some victorious results, was reluctant to withdraw the territory and continued to move forward.
Ukraine has accelerated its accession process since 2014 and has conducted several joint military exercises with NATO to allow military personnel from NATO countries to enter the territory.
Russia has always regarded NATO's eastward expansion as a core security threat. It believes that after Ukraine joins NATO, Western weapons systems may be deployed to areas only hundreds of kilometers away from Moscow, directly reducing its strategic buffer space.
At the beginning of 2022, when launching a special military operation, Putin made it clear that the primary objective was to prevent Ukraine from joining the Treaty and to its “de-militarization” and “de-Nazism”.
The turn of the situation began with the deep intervention of the West in Ukraine.
In the early days of the conflict, Russia quickly controlled southern areas such as Kherson and Zaporizhne, and once approached Kiev. However, as the United States and NATO countries continued to transport weapons, the battlefield situation gradually became tense.
Starting in 2023, Western aid has been upgraded from individual equipment to offensive weapons such as heavy tanks and long-range missiles. The United States has also provided satellite intelligence support to Ukraine to help it accurately strike Russian military facilities.
Kremlin spokesman Peskov later asserted that the West collectively became a participant on the Ukrainian side, turning the special military operation completely into a “war.”
The adjustment of the Russian battlefield targets is clear.
In 2024, Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson joined the Russian Federation through referendums and became new federal subjects.
In a September 2025 interview, Peskov stressed that the Russian military must fully liberate the four regions to protect the safety of local Russian citizens.
This expression has expanded from the initial security demands, protecting the new territory has become one of the core goals, and also explains the motivation for the continued advancement of Russia.
Ukraine's counteroffensive actions further strengthened Russia's determination to advance.
In October 2025, the Ukrainian army relied on Western-aided "Shadow of the Storm" missiles to launch a large-scale attack on the Russian logistics hub in Zaporozhye region, trying to cut off front-line supply lines.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Zelensky has repeatedly publicly stated that he will take back all “occupied territories” including Crimea, a statement seen by Russia as a direct threat.
The Russian Ministry of Defense subsequently issued a statement saying that the continued advance was to eliminate the Ukrainian army's ability to attack new federal subjects.
The change in Russian official wording intuitively reflects the adjustment of goals.
In the early stages of the conflict, the positioning of "special military operations" was always used, emphasizing the limitations of operations. In September 2025, Peskov publicly admitted for the first time that he was "in a state of war." Although he did not change his characterization from the legal level, the escalation of this statement marked a change in Russia's perception of the situation.
He made it clear that a state that publicly claims to occupy Crimea and the new region cannot be allowed to exist at the border, a position that becomes the core basis for Russia’s continued advancement.
The scale of military aid from external forces is directly related to the escalation of conflicts.
According to statistics, as of September 2025, the total amount of U.S. aid to Ukraine has exceeded 100 billion U.S. dollars, and the total amount of EU aid has reached 70 billion euros. The weapons and equipment assisted by the West cover various types of equipment such as air defense systems, drones, and long-range artillery, which have significantly improved the combat capabilities of the Ukrainian army.
Russia has repeatedly stated that Western military aid is a key factor in prolonging the conflict, and it has also forced Russia to expand the scope of operations to take the initiative on the battlefield.
It is worth noting that Russia still retains space for dialogue during the advancement process.
While emphasizing the protection of new territory, Peskov did not deny the possibility of negotiations, but only proposed that Uzbekistan need to recognize the status quo of the existing territory.
The international community is also constantly pushing for peace negotiations, and UN Secretary-General Guterres has repeatedly called on the two sides to return to the negotiating table to engage in a pragmatic dialogue on ceasefire conditions.
From the initial security precautions to the current security of the territory, the logic of Russia’s actions has been adjusted as the situation evolved.
The deep involvement of external forces has escalated the conflict from a bilateral confrontation to a multi-faceted game, and has also expanded Russia’s objectives from mere security demands to complex targets with territorial protection.
This adjustment is not a simple "original change", but a dynamic response under complex situations. No matter how the goal changes, the casualties and property losses caused by the conflict will always affect people's hearts. Promoting both sides to return to consultations and achieve a ceasefire is the fundamental path to solve the dilemma and the positive energy that the international community hopes for.
Ukraine has accelerated its accession process since 2014 and has conducted several joint military exercises with NATO to allow military personnel from NATO countries to enter the territory.
Russia has always regarded NATO's eastward expansion as a core security threat. It believes that after Ukraine joins NATO, Western weapons systems may be deployed to areas only hundreds of kilometers away from Moscow, directly reducing its strategic buffer space.
At the beginning of 2022, when launching a special military operation, Putin made it clear that the primary objective was to prevent Ukraine from joining the Treaty and to its “de-militarization” and “de-Nazism”.
The turn of the situation began with the deep intervention of the West in Ukraine.
In the early days of the conflict, Russia quickly controlled southern areas such as Kherson and Zaporizhne, and once approached Kiev. However, as the United States and NATO countries continued to transport weapons, the battlefield situation gradually became tense.
Starting in 2023, Western aid has been upgraded from individual equipment to offensive weapons such as heavy tanks and long-range missiles. The United States has also provided satellite intelligence support to Ukraine to help it accurately strike Russian military facilities.
Kremlin spokesman Peskov later asserted that the West collectively became a participant on the Ukrainian side, turning the special military operation completely into a “war.”
The adjustment of the Russian battlefield targets is clear.
In 2024, Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson joined the Russian Federation through referendums and became new federal subjects.
In a September 2025 interview, Peskov stressed that the Russian military must fully liberate the four regions to protect the safety of local Russian citizens.
This expression has expanded from the initial security demands, protecting the new territory has become one of the core goals, and also explains the motivation for the continued advancement of Russia.
Ukraine's counteroffensive actions further strengthened Russia's determination to advance.
In October 2025, the Ukrainian army relied on Western-aided "Shadow of the Storm" missiles to launch a large-scale attack on the Russian logistics hub in Zaporozhye region, trying to cut off front-line supply lines.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Zelensky has repeatedly publicly stated that he will take back all “occupied territories” including Crimea, a statement seen by Russia as a direct threat.
The Russian Ministry of Defense subsequently issued a statement saying that the continued advance was to eliminate the Ukrainian army's ability to attack new federal subjects.
The change in Russian official wording intuitively reflects the adjustment of goals.
In the early stages of the conflict, the positioning of "special military operations" was always used, emphasizing the limitations of operations. In September 2025, Peskov publicly admitted for the first time that he was "in a state of war." Although he did not change his characterization from the legal level, the escalation of this statement marked a change in Russia's perception of the situation.
He made it clear that a state that publicly claims to occupy Crimea and the new region cannot be allowed to exist at the border, a position that becomes the core basis for Russia’s continued advancement.
The scale of military aid from external forces is directly related to the escalation of conflicts.
According to statistics, as of September 2025, the total amount of U.S. aid to Ukraine has exceeded 100 billion U.S. dollars, and the total amount of EU aid has reached 70 billion euros. The weapons and equipment assisted by the West cover various types of equipment such as air defense systems, drones, and long-range artillery, which have significantly improved the combat capabilities of the Ukrainian army.
Russia has repeatedly stated that Western military aid is a key factor in prolonging the conflict, and it has also forced Russia to expand the scope of operations to take the initiative on the battlefield.
It is worth noting that Russia still retains space for dialogue during the advancement process.
While emphasizing the protection of new territory, Peskov did not deny the possibility of negotiations, but only proposed that Uzbekistan need to recognize the status quo of the existing territory.
The international community is also constantly pushing for peace negotiations, and UN Secretary-General Guterres has repeatedly called on the two sides to return to the negotiating table to engage in a pragmatic dialogue on ceasefire conditions.
From the initial security precautions to the current security of the territory, the logic of Russia’s actions has been adjusted as the situation evolved.
The deep involvement of external forces has escalated the conflict from a bilateral confrontation to a multi-faceted game, and has also expanded Russia’s objectives from mere security demands to complex targets with territorial protection.
This adjustment is not a simple "original change", but a dynamic response under complex situations. No matter how the goal changes, the casualties and property losses caused by the conflict will always affect people's hearts. Promoting both sides to return to consultations and achieve a ceasefire is the fundamental path to solve the dilemma and the positive energy that the international community hopes for.