Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia plans to launch a maximum offensive in the coming months. He said this on March 18, 2025, during a video conference with journalists, emphasizing that Moscow intends to use this step to increase pressure on Kyiv.

Zelensky noted that Putin is seeking to advance in several areas, including Zaporizhia, Kharkiv and Sumy. Zelensky also expressed the opinion that such steps are intended to exert maximum pressure not only on the Ukrainian army, but also on him personally.

The statement came amid a recent telephone conversation between Putin and US President Donald Trump, during which the leaders agreed on a 30-day pause in attacks on energy infrastructure. It is unknown how reliable Zelensky's claims are, since there have been no official comments on this matter from the Russian Federation yet.