Russia is pooling its manpower and weapons for a potential major spring offensive in Ukraine, a Western security official told the Daily Express.

       This week saw top Russian and US officials meet for peace talks in Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh.

       The two sides attempted to thrash out the outlines to an agreement that could bring the almost three-year war to an end.

       Despite the new peace initiative, fighting continues to rage on the frontlines in Ukraine, with fierce battles ongoing in Kursk and around Pokovsk in particular.

       Russia's advance towards the strategic eastern city has slowed in recent weeks, leading some to believe the Kremlin's army is running out of steam and is struggling to replenish its units.

       READ MORE Sweden on high alert as PM warns of 'serious situation' with internet cables cut

       However, a Western security official told the Daily Express he did not buy the argument that Putin's army was running out of manpower and weapons.

       He said: "Zelensky and his intelligence chief Budanov have said a couple of times now, that they think that Russia is gearing up for another attack."

       "They think the Russians are holding back tanks, armoured vehicles and a lot of the trained troops - which they are."

       The Western security official said the Russians were committing untrained troops, including injured personnel on crutches, to suicide assaults as part of a strategy to wear down Ukraine's defences.

       Don't miss...

       David Lammy humiliated at major summit after Russia minister's brutal snub [LATEST]

       Vladimir Putin 'set to declare victory' over Ukraine after Donald Trump talks [NEWS]

       UK weapons compan's huge ￡3bn profit as world teeters on brink of WW3 [LATEST]

       He coninued: "So, in other words, you destroy, you get rid of as much as possible with your second division before you put the first division in.

       "And I have the suspicion that this is what we're seeing now, and we're going to see something different somewhere else."

       The defence expert believes the attack could come as soon as the spring when the ground hardens and that it would not necessarily be in the east of Ukraine.

       "I think they will hit the weakest part, which may actually be through Belarus or it may be around Kharkiv.

       "There are still parts of the border around Kharkiv where there's no fighting and there's no real defences. Just mines and some trench works and some soldiers."

       Western leaders and politicians are worried that Donald Trump is caving in to Russian demands, after his officials seemed to rule out a return to Ukraine's pre-2014 borders and Nato membership for the country.

       Many have warned that a deal that hands victory to Putin will embolden the Russian leader and lead to more Russian land grabs and armed conflict in Europe.

       Kristi Raik, director of the International Centre for Defence and Security, told the Daily Express that Mr Trump was in danger of making things worse for Europe and its security.

       She said: "If Trump is kind of stupid enough to show himself as weak vis-a-vis Putin and go for a deal, which is unacceptable to Ukrainians and to Europeans, there will be a big mess.

       "Europe has to back Ukraine in this situation and make it very clear that we are not ready to accept a deal that Putin and Trump might make bilaterally, and then imagine that they will impose it on all of Europe."

       In the event that Putin decides to attack Europe, then the Western security official believes he may be tempted to seize territory in Norway's Arctic region.

       "NATO is relatively strong in the Baltic states, but we are not in Svalbard at all, in northern Norway.

       "Putin keeps putting troops up there, and he keeps building (military) facilities in that direction."