(KYIV) – Recent Russian missile attacks on the western Ukrainian city of Lviv reflect growing desperation in the Kremlin as battlefield failures leave the Russian dictator Vladimir Putin with shrinking options, according to William B Taylor, a former United States ambassador to Ukraine.
Speaking during a wide ranging interview on Times Radio’s Front Line programme, Taylor said the use of an intermediate range ballistic missile against Lviv, while not nuclear armed, was a clear sign that Moscow was struggling to change the course of the war. He said the choice of such a weapon, capable of carrying a nuclear payload, appeared designed to intimidate rather than achieve any meaningful military gain.
Taylor argued that the Russian dictator is increasingly aware that his forces are not winning in eastern Ukraine, particularly in the Donbas region, where months of costly fighting have failed to deliver a decisive breakthrough. He said the attack on Lviv, far from the main front lines, demonstrated a dilemma in Moscow about how to respond to continued Ukrainian resistance.
The former ambassador said Russia has never been serious about negotiations and has consistently used talks only as a means to seek concessions it cannot secure on the battlefield. He said Putin’s stated objectives go far beyond territorial claims and amount to a denial of Ukraine’s right to exist as an independent state.
Taylor was sceptical about repeated efforts by former US president Donald Trump and his advisers to pursue negotiations with Moscow, saying the Kremlin has repeatedly exploited these initiatives to buy time. He said Putin has shown no willingness to compromise and has instead sought to string along Western interlocutors without offering anything in return.
According to Taylor, there are signs that Trump has become increasingly irritated with the Russian leader, having realised that Moscow is not acting in good faith. He pointed to recent firm actions by the United States, including enforcement measures against vessels linked to Russia’s oil exports, as indications that Washington may be losing patience with Kremlin tactics.
On the battlefield, Taylor said Ukrainian forces have shown resilience despite exhaustion, winter conditions and sustained Russian attacks on energy infrastructure. He noted that Ukrainian troops have pushed back Russian advances in several areas and prevented Moscow from achieving the massed force needed for a decisive breakthrough.
He said Russia’s strategy appears to rely on grinding pressure and the hope of outlasting Ukraine and its supporters, but argued that this approach is failing. Taylor said continued European and American backing makes it increasingly clear that Moscow cannot simply wait out Kyiv and its allies.
The former ambassador also highlighted the growing economic pressure on Russia, driven by sanctions on oil and gas exports and reinforced by Ukrainian strikes on infrastructure linked to the war effort. He said Russia’s war funding depends heavily on energy exports, which have been constrained by lower prices, sanctions and tighter enforcement against attempts to evade restrictions through so called shadow fleets.
Taylor said these measures have already reduced Russian revenues significantly, weakening the Kremlin’s ability to sustain the conflict over time. He added that Ukrainian attacks on oil and gas facilities, combined with Western enforcement actions at sea, are amplifying the impact of sanctions.
As Europe increases its military and financial support for Ukraine, Taylor said the balance of responsibility is gradually shifting. European states are expanding defence production and providing more direct assistance, reducing reliance on the United States while still seeking to keep Washington engaged.
He noted that European backing includes a major financial support package worth about 90 billion euros, equivalent to roughly 97 billion US dollars at current exchange rates, aimed at sustaining Ukraine’s economy and war effort. Taylor said this reflects a broader recognition in Europe of the need to take greater responsibility for regional security.
Taylor also addressed recent political changes within Ukraine following corruption investigations that led to senior departures in Kyiv. He said President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has taken corrective action by supporting investigations, removing implicated officials and strengthening anti corruption institutions, steps that he believes have ultimately reinforced Ukraine’s internal cohesion.
He contrasted Ukraine’s efforts with what he described as entrenched corruption in Russia, arguing that Kyiv has shown a willingness to confront the problem even during wartime. Taylor said public pressure in Ukraine has played a decisive role in defending the independence of anti corruption bodies.
Looking ahead, Taylor said Putin is becoming increasingly isolated internationally, having lost or weakened support from several partners while Ukraine continues to receive backing from Europe and, for now, the United States. He said this growing imbalance should further convince the Kremlin that a military victory is unattainable.
Taylor concluded that the war can only end when Moscow accepts that it cannot win by force. He said sustained pressure, continued military assistance to Ukraine and tighter enforcement of sanctions remain the most effective means of pushing the Russian leadership towards that realisation.
