Russian President Vladimir Putin is pinning his hopes on a Trump election victory next year followed by the US lowering support for Ukraine , western officials believe.

The Kremlin believes that if Donald Trump regains the White House he could dump US backing for Kyiv and weaken resolve against Russia ’s invasion. Even though Russia has been hit by a string of military losses, culminating in a slow withdrawal from Ukraine, it will be the biggest and possibly most deluded gamble of Putin’s war.

On Wednesday western officials confirmed that Ukraine’s counter-offensive was slower than had been hoped but said, even so, that Russian troops were being driven back. One official said: “I think that it’s slower progress than we would have anticipated a couple of months ago. That’s not a criticism of Ukraine.

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“If we obsess about how many hundreds of metres Ukraine has achieved today that becomes a metric for what is a substantial war that challenges euro-Atlantic security.

“One that has been a catastrophic failure for Russia because it has failed on all of its broader strategic objectives and military objectives. NATO is much stronger, Ukraine has got a bright future.

“Putin thinks he has time. I think if you’re Putin you are basically gambling that Donald Trump wins the next election. But that is a long way away.”

The official added that Russia slowing down Ukraine’s advance does not point towards a major problem for Ukraine and its western allies. And he highlighted the fact that a recent Wagner Group attempt by leader Yevgeny Prigozhin to launch an uprising indicated a failing Russia.

He said: ”In the meantime let’s say the Prigozhin mutiny wouldn’t have happened if the war was going well in Ukraine for Russia.

And going backwards a bit more slowly than you were before does not necessarily seem to me to be a good measure of success either.”

And he went on to underline the importance of the west continuing with “equipment supplies,” well into next year, through the Winter and Spring period adding: “That sets up Ukraine to continue the fighting during the Winter period but also to be ready for the Spring, assuming it wants to continue the fighting and progress when the better weather comes. That is not giving Russia an opportunity.”

This comes as the former US president was spotted heading to Trump Tower in New York City , but his appearance and posture showed a “slimmer, sadder-looking version”, according to a body language expert.

Trump was spotted heading to Trump Tower after spending the day at his Bedminster golf club in New Jersey on Monday, September 4, where he had welcomed members of the Bikers for Trump group. The 77-year-old spent Labor Day with the devoted fans, praising them on social media before heading back to the city.

Taking to his Truth Social platform, he said: “A very large group of ‘Bikers for Trump’ just left Bedminster. What a great time we all had. The motorcycles were AMAZING, the love and enthusiasm absolutely ‘beyond’. Thank you all. We must WIN in 2024. MAGA.!”