Putin Wants Russia's 'Complete' Victory Over Ukraine By March 2: Russian Ex-Official

Russian President Vladimir Putin could be aiming to complete its invasion of Ukraine by Wednesday, a former Russian official warned.

Andrei Fedorov, who previously served as Russia’s foreign minister, said Putin’s initial order was for Russian troops to “complete the military operation with a victory by March 2.” However, Fedorov said he remains hopeful of the announced talks near the Belarusian border between Russia and Ukraine. It is unclear when the talks would be held.

“There should be talks going on without preconditions. I know the position of my friends in Kyiv and the leadership of Ukraine. They’re ready to sit and to talk, but without precondition,” Fedorov told Al Jazeera.

The request for talks comes as the European Union and the West moved to impose tough sanctions on Russia — sanctions that, Fedorov said, were stronger than what the Kremlin predicted they would be before they began the operations in Ukraine.

“They always think that, OK ... we are a big country, we are a great country. We are supplying you with gas and oil. You will never use sanctions ... such sanctions again. This is reality for today and it’s caused a lot of problems over here now,” the former foreign minister said.

The European Union, the United Kingdom and the United States on Saturday moved to remove several Russian banks from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT). The move would sever the communication of Russian banks with financial institutions outside of its border. In addition, assets belonging to the Russian central bank would be frozen, effectively limiting the country’s access to its overseas reserves.

The Japanese government would also impose sanctions that target the assets of certain Russian financial institutions, individuals and organizations. Exports to Russian military organizations would also be banned.

Australia has imposed travel bans on eight members of the Security Council of the Russian Federation on Thursday. The country is also working with the U.S. to impose further sanctions.

As of Sunday, Russian ground forces are moving closer towards Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital, according to satellite images. The convoy of Russian troops stretched out over three miles of road and includes infantry fighting and supply vehicles.