Ukraine, Moscow scales back plans for spring offensive

The Kremlin has scaled back plans

for a further offensive in Ukraine this spring and will focus on defending the conquered territories in anticipation of a counter-offensive by Kiev forces which should begin shortly: the decision, according to anonymous sources interviewed by the Bloomberg agency, would have been taken in light of the limited progress so far on the battlefield.

Moscow is also looking to recruit up to 400,000 'contract soldiers' this year to replace the losses it has suffered so far.

According to sources, in fact, the Russian authorities want to avoid another large-scale mobilization in view of the campaign for the presidential elections next March.

Authorities have already launched a campaign to recruit the mercenaries, while officials on the ground have sent invitations to potential volunteers, targeting veterans and rural residents in particular.

At the same time, some experts and officials believe that the goal of 400,000 "contract soldiers" is unrealistic.

Kiev calls Beijing

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky in an interview with the Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun claims that China has not proposed to Kiev as a mediator in the conflict in Ukraine: "Beijing has not sent me a proposal to mediate. I received the proposal to meet,” says Zelensky, adding: “Furthermore, I have sent direct messages (to Beijing), through diplomatic channels, saying that

.”