VLADIMIR Putin has ordered his army to expand the war in Ukraine in 2026 as the tyrant continues to try and snatch more territory.

Russian commanders have been instructed to invade swathes of Sumy and Kharkiv border regions next year in the latest damaging blow to Donald Trump’s carefully crafted peace plan.

Putin’s military chief, General Valery Gerasimov, announced the twisted plans during a trip to a frontline command post on Tuesday.

He described the land seizure in northeastern Ukraine as simply an expansion of a “buffer zone”.

Russia has consistently claimed this egregious zone is a way for its troops to push back Ukrainian forces away from Russia’s border.

Kyiv says Moscow’s buffer is Putin’s way of justifying deeper incursions into Ukrainian territory.

Analysts at the US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) argue the buffer zone is actually a way of Russia getting within artillery range of Kharkiv – Ukraine‘s second-biggest city.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the Kremlin‘s plans for Sumy and Kharkiv “mad”.

He vowed his troops would defend the two key regions with all they can.

An aging 70-year-old Gerasimov claimed Putin’s expansion hopes are based on “confident advances” being seen on the battlefield this month.

The general said: “The troops of the joint grouping are confidently advancing deeper into the enemy’s defences and in December achieved the highest offensive tempo to date.

“Over the month, more than 700 sq km of territory was taken.

Freezing Moscow plunged into darkness as 'hundreds of thousands' lose power following Ukraine drone strikes

BLIZZARD BLITZ

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“The Northern Group of Forces has completed the liberation of Kursk region in accordance with the instructions of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief [Vladimir Putin], while establishing a security buffer in the border areas of Ukraine’s Sumy and Kharkiv regions.

“The President of the Russian Federation [Putin] has set the task of continuing to expand the security buffer next year in order to ensure the peaceful lives of residents of Belgorod and Kursk regions.”

ISW experts, who have been studying the war for its entirety, often rubbish Russia’s blown-up claims over how much land it has seized.

Across the whole year, Russia claims to have taken 6,000 sq km of land from the Ukrainians.

ISW studies show the true number is far lower at around 4,700 sq km – an area about twice the size of Moscow.

Putin’s troops have made advances as the harsh winter conditions take their toll on Kyiv’s smaller forces.

Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson remain the most fought over regions with Ukraine refusing to cede territory despite Russia’s attempts.

This fresh tactic to secure as much land as possible off the Ukrainians appears to come as revenge for a Russian claim that Ukraine deliberately targeted a Putin palace at Valdai in Novgorod region.

Ukraine denies targeting the tyrant’s home with drones despite the Kremlin’s outburst.

Putin even complained to Trump over the unfounded attacks as the US president said if the claims were true then he would be “very angry”.

Kyiv sees the hoax claims as a “false flag” designed to further derail peace talks so Putin can snatch more land in the coming months.

Zelensky met Trump at his Mar-a-Lago home last week where the pair discussed the latest peace developments.

Trump saluted the bravery of Ukraine’s leader and his people as he called the talks “terrific” and said he had “made a lot of progress” towards a deal.

He said: “I think we’re doing very well. We could be very close. There are one or two very thorny issues, very tough issues, but I think we’re doing very well.

“I really believe we’re probably… closer than, by far, closer than ever before with both parties. In a few weeks, we will know one way or the other.”

Zelensky said he hopes the meeting will “bring peace as quick as possible”.

Before the meeting, Trump and Putin even had a phone call which the president described on Truth Social as “very good and productive”.

Russia refused to say if it believes peace can be achieved quickly, instead saying a temporary ceasefire – an idea being pushed by Europe – will never be accepted.

They want a complete end to the conflict but only on terms which benefit Putin’s greedy thirst for territorial gains.

Russia has told the US they will sign a deal if Ukraine gives up Donbas – a region they currently don’t completely control – as well as Crimea.

Zelensky has been adamant that he will never allow for Moscow to claim land it doesn’t already have in eastern Donbas.