Valerii Zaluzhnyi, commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, warned in a Thursday interview with The Economist that Russia is gearing up for "another go" at Kyiv.

The top general said he believes Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to mobilize was preparation for a renewed offensive on the Ukrainian capital, which the Kremlin last targeted in April.

Russia "is preparing new resources. ... 100%," Zaluzhnyi told the outlet, adding that the Ukrainian army must prepare for the new assault, "which may begin in February, at best in March, and at worst at the end of January."

"It may start not in Donbas, but towards Kyiv, from Belarus. I do not rule out the southern direction as well. The Russians are preparing some 200,000 fresh troops. I have no doubt they will have another go at Kyiv."

He further stressed a need for increased aid and weapon supplies from the U.S. and NATO, specifically 300 tanks, 600-700 infantry fighting vehicles, 500 howitzers, and better air defense missiles.

Then, Zaluzhnyi said, "it is completely realistic" to retake all lost territory from Russia with the country's 1.5 million-strong reserve army as Ukraine prepares its own "big operation."

The general's comments arrive one day after both sides struck down the idea of a Christmas cease-fire, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declaring Wednesday that "there is no calm on the frontline."

"Every day and every meter are given extremely hard. And especially where the entire tactic of the occupiers boils down to the destruction of everything in front of them with artillery — so that only bare ruins and craters in the ground remain," Zelenskyy stated.

Hours later, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that "no such offers have been received from anybody" and that a cease-fire was "not on the agenda."

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