Two of the sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Putin was likely to escalate the conflict, now in its fifth year. One of them, who meets regularly with the president, described a “high probability” of escalation in the coming months.

Two of the sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Putin was likely to escalate the conflict, now in its fifth year. One of them, who meets regularly with the president, described a “high probability” of escalation in the coming months.