Putin uses mix of sham and blackmail - military expert Kovalenko

"Regarding Putin, we understand that it is impossible to conduct any peace negotiations with him, because he has one goal - to take over Ukraine. He needs negotiations only in order to gain more time to compensate for losses and restore technical potential and combat capability of his units.And then to continue fighting with new strength. Therefore, such negotiations are purely an act for him, but we see that he combines this act with threats. That is nuclear threats, as well as strikes on civilian objects, which are also elements of blackmail in order to force Ukraine to capitulate or settle for certain agreements on Russia's terms. Of course, we understand that this will not happen," the military expert said.

The expert noted that Putin will seek to achieve his goal through terror, and not through any tactical or strategic successes, so he will continue to terrorize, and Ukraine must be mentally and psychologically prepared.

• On October 27, Putin cited Kyiv's rejection of the Minsk agreements as the reason for the full-scale invasion on Ukraine and said that the West would have to reach an agreement with Russia about "a common future." 

• Matthew Bryza, a diplomat and former adviser to the US Secretary of State, noted that Putin is bluffing in his readiness to use nuclear weapons, and Shoigu is trying to find more ways to scare the world.