NBC: Putin doesn't actually want peace – He wants Ukraine

Western intelligence reveals Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to pursue full control of Ukraine even as his representatives engage in preliminary peace negotiations, according to multiple officials familiar with sensitive assessments.

"We have zero intelligence that Putin is interested in a real peace deal right now," a congressional official told NBC News, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss classified information.

The revelation comes as Trump administration officials, led by Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and national security adviser Michael Waltz, meet with Russian counterparts in Riyadh. The talks mark the first major diplomatic push since Trump returned to office, following his campaign promise to end the conflict within 24 hours.

Despite Trump's public optimism about Putin's willingness to negotiate — citing a recent phone conversation where the Russian leader allegedly expressed desire to end the war — intelligence from multiple Western sources suggests a different reality. "He thinks he's winning," one Western intelligence official said, noting that battlefield losses have not softened Putin's resolve.

The intelligence assessment, shared by four Western intelligence officials and two U.S. congressional officials, indicates Putin may view the peace process as an opportunity to reset his military forces while seeking diplomatic concessions. Of particular concern, officials say, is the absence of any Russian military drawdown plans in Ukraine or western Russia.

Putin's position appears strengthened by recent Trump administration statements suggesting NATO membership for Ukraine is unlikely as part of any settlement. "His goals remain maximalist," an intelligence official emphasized.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed strong reservations about being sidelined in negotiations. "I will never accept any decisions between the United States and Russia about Ukraine, never," Zelenskyy told NBC News' "Meet the Press." "This is the war in Ukraine, against us, and it's our human losses."

The National Security Council defended the administration's approach. Spokesman Brian Hughes highlighted Trump's early diplomatic breakthrough: "President Trump's leadership has created the first opening for talks in years, and he did this after only four weeks in office."

NBC contributed to this article.