Reuters: Russia Changed War Plans

The publication refers to a senior Pentagon official.

The United States believes that Russia will focus its efforts on capturing the east of Ukraine rather than storming Kyiv because of the failure of the offensive.

Reuters has reported this, quoting a senior Pentagon official.

Russian forces will try to cut off Donbass and the Ukrainian military defending the region in order to have leverage during talks with Zelensky's office.

On Friday, Russia said the first phase of the "special operation" was allegedly almost complete and it would focus on the complete "liberation" of Donbass.

"They are prioritising this, and we agree that our information is consistent with that," the official told reporters on condition of anonymity.

The US has seen Russian forces become more aggressive in the Donbass area.

"They have certainly made that their priority," the ministry official added.

Russian troops are stuck outside Kyiv and occupying defensive positions. At the same time, the Ukrainian army is gradually advancing towards Chernihiv.