Zelenskyy claims Putin's inner circle backs peace efforts

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed Friday that certain members of Russian President Vladimir Putin's inner circle privately support ending the war, asserting that influential figures within the Kremlin now recognize the futility of continued hostilities. "They understand what is happening there and that peace has no alternative," he said, adding that these sentiments extend beyond Ukraine's international partners to include Moscow's own leadership echelons.

The Ukrainian leader highlighted Russia's worsening gasoline shortages as evidence of mounting pressure on Moscow, describing the fuel crisis as a direct consequence of the Kremlin's refusal to negotiate an end to hostilities. "We have made proposals on how to bring peace closer, we have support not only among partners in the world, but also among Putin's entourage – regarding peace," Zelenskyy stated, noting that diplomatic channels remain open despite the intensifying military campaign.

Military developments and Moscow's stance

Zelenskyy announced the creation of a specialized military command dedicated to long-range operations against Russian targets, vowing to expand Kyiv's capacity to strike deep inside enemy territory and Russian-controlled regions of Ukraine. The new structure — described as a "command of long-range, in fact - global influence on Russia during this war" — will consolidate all available assets to degrade Moscow's military potential, he said. "This command must concentrate one hundred percent of available resources in order to further significantly reduce Russia's war potential," Zelenskyy added, emphasizing the unit's role in diminishing Russian combat capabilities.

Moscow has not commented on Zelenskyy's latest assertions regarding internal dissent within the Russian leadership, and independent verification of the Ukrainian president's claims remains impossible amid ongoing hostilities. Russian officials have previously dismissed similar reports of friction among Putin's inner circle as psychological warfare designed to undermine Moscow's military operations.