Senior Biden administration officials say they believe the next four weeks will determine the final outcome of Russia's war in Ukraine, with long-term consequences that will affect the map of Europe for decades to come..

This was reported to The New York Times by a number of American dignitaries on condition of anonymity..

If Russia can break through to the east, officials say, Putin will have a better chance at home to present his so-called "

Then he could seek a ceasefire, but at the same time he would have the courage to use the Donbass as leverage in any negotiations.

But if the Ukrainian military can stop Russia's offensive in the Donbas, officials say, the Russian president will face a tough choice: commit more combat power to a war that could drag on for years, or seriously negotiate peace talks..

The first option could mean full national mobilization and is politically risky for the Kremlin chief, officials say..

The Pentagon believes that with the right weapons and maintaining high morale and motivation, Ukrainian forces can not only stop the advance of Russia, but also push it back, one of the interlocutors of the publication said..