What Happened: According to American intelligence assessments, the Ukrainian military's optimal window of opportunity to make gains against Russia's forces will last for roughly another six weeks, The New York Times reported Oct. 21.

Why It Matters: The reports are further evidence that Ukraine will maintain its offensives in the coming weeks, focusing on the Kherson and Luhansk regions, before changing conditions cause the frontline to become more stagnant. But the assessments also suggest that Putin is unlikely to back down, and, under the belief that time is on Russia's side, Russian forces will dig in for defensive operations, resulting in the war appearing stalemated in the coming months before the conditions for major offensives improve next year.

Background: Factors that will complicate further Ukrainian advances past the six-week timeframe include increasingly cloudy and rainy weather, which will obstruct satellite imagery and the movement of vehicles. Additionally, the loss of foliage this winter will reveal strong points and troop concentrations obscured by trees, and more of Russia's currently mobilizing and training soldiers will reach the front line in Ukraine.