VLADIMIR Putin is hellbent on conquering Ukraine as the tyrant fears he will be “hanging from a lamppost in six months” otherwise, a Brit volunteer soldier has warned.
It comes as the despot snubs ceasefire talks and ploughs on with his bloody invasion of Ukraine – massing a fresh 50,000-strong force on the border.
AlamyPutin, pictured at the Kremlin on Monday, has gathered more troops on the border[/caption]
A building burns following a Russian strike in the Kharkiv regionAFP
EPAServicemen of the 127th Separate Brigade of the Territorial Defence firing a cannon towards Russian army positions on the frontline in Kharkiv region[/caption]
Megalomaniac Putin has dramatically escalated Moscow‘s bombing campaign in recent days and unleashed the biggest drone attack since the start of the war.
Furious Donald Trump – who has been attempting to mediate peace talks – branded the dictator crazy as he threatened new US sanctions.
More than three years into Putin’s ruthless invasion, the tyrant has failed in his goal to seize Kyiv and take control of the nation.
Macer Gifford, who fought in Ukraine, said Vlad has defied Trump’s pursuit of a ceasefire as he is fixated on fulfilling his “ideological dream” – and fears he could be killed if he is ousted.
The Brit ex-banker, who also battled ISIS in Syria, told The Sun: “Both sides [Russia and Ukraine] are completely ideologically opposed.
“On one side you’ve got a unique culture, heritage, history, people that want to be part of the EU, they want their kids to build a better life for themselves.
“Then on the other side, you’ve got an old man [Putin] who wants to build a legacy for himself, who wants to rebuild the Soviet empire to fulfil his ideological dreams.
“And this old man is very fearful that if he were to lose in Ukraine then he could be toppled.
“And if he were to be toppled, like all dictators, he could be hanging from a lamppost in six months’ time, or he could be in The Hague accounting for his crimes.”
It comes as Donald Trump’s “candid” call with Putin in a bid to restart peace talks fell flat as the despot readies his troops for a “long war”.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky warned intelligence shows Vlad no intention of ending the war.
Military analysts believe the Russian tyrant is trying to press home his advantage and capture more Ukrainian land.
His forces have taken four border villages in Ukraines northeastern Sumy region, a local official said today.
Between Friday and Sunday, Russia launched around 900 drones at Ukraine, officials said, amid a spate of large-scale bombardments.
On Sunday night, Russia launched its biggest drone attack of the 3-year war against Ukraine, firing 355 drones.
Putin’s decision to ramp up his blood-soaked war comes despite Trump’s fury and staggering losses on the battlefield.
The US president fumed: “I’m not happy with Putin, I don’t know what’s wrong with him.
“What the hell happened to him? Right? He’s killing a lot of people. I’m not happy about that.”
APTrump branded Putin ‘crazy’ in reaction to Russia’s latest bombardments[/caption]
Macer Gifford volunteered to fight in UkraineDan Charity
Russia has sustained more than 900,000 casualties over the course of the war
Trump is even “seriously considering” lifting all restrictions on how Ukraine can fight Russian troops, sources told the Kyiv Post.
Macer warned Putin could do whatever it takes to secure his “legacy” by overthrowing Ukraine.
He added: “This is a man who wants to survive.
“He doesn’t care about the men he’s throwing into the fight, he doesn’t care whether his people suffer from economic hardship.
“He particularly doesn’t care about the Ukrainians.”
Putin arrogantly assumed he could sweep in and seize Kyiv in a matter of days after ordering his troops over the border into Ukraine.
But more than three years on, the red-faced despot has suffered huge losses on the battlefield.
More than 10,000 tanks, 22,000 armored vehicles, 26,000 artillery systems, and over 700 aircraft have been destroyed, officials estimate.
And the casualty numbers are far grimmer.
Western officials have revealed that the Russians have sustained more than 900,000 casualties, with 250,000 dead, since Putin unleashed his illegal war.
But Volodymyr Zelensky has said there is “no indication” that Vlad is “seriously considering” peace in Ukraine – despite numerous calls and meetings with the US.
The Ukrainian leader added that instead, there is “ample evidence” that a new offensive is being prepared.
Putin’s ‘devastating Achilles’ Heel’
by Katie Davis, Chief Foreign Reporter (Digital), and Denis Grigorescu
VLADIMIR Putin has four glaring vulnerabilities that could ultimately lead to his downfall, an ex-military intelligence officer has revealed.
Security expert David H. Carstens also told how the tyrant’s “Achilles’ heel” is putting Russia on track to have the highest number of casualties this year since the war started.
He even claimed his weaknesses could see him face the same grisly fate as Adolf Hitler.
Carstens, who served in the US Army for more than 30 years, said Putin is ploughing on with the conflict despite this as he “feels no real pressure” to strike a peace deal.
He told The Sun: “Russia believes it is negotiating from a position of strength. And this is strange because Russia has had some staggering losses in the last four months.
“The Ministry of Defense from the United Kingdom has estimated 160,000 casualties from Russia in the first four months of 2025.
“So this would be – well, this would put Russia on track to have the highest number of casualties this year than in any other year since the war started.
“But Russia is continuing to press on. Putin is feeling no real pressure to come to the negotiating table.
“We just saw this. And quite frankly, I believe Putin is feeling emboldened by the lack of long-term US commitment to Ukraine.
“And what he sees are some cracks in the European Union’s outlook on Ukraine.”