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Presidential Office responds to Putin’s statements on Ukraine’s 'sponsorship' and negotiations

Presidential Office responds to Putin’s statements on Ukraine’s 'sponsorship' and negotiations Photo: Mykhailo Podolyak, Advisor to the Head of the Presidential Office (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)

Russian President Vladimir Putin has not changed his behavior and continues to perceive reality inadequately, said the Advisor of the Head of the Presidential Office Mykhailo Podolyak in a comment to the YouTube channel RBC-Ukraine.

"Putin is Putin. He does not change his behavior or its format. He perceives reality in a completely inadequate way and continues to live in the illusions or myths he has created for himself, which he uses to justify his actions," Podolyak said.

'Sponsor money'

According to Podolyak, Putin has been talking for the third year about Western support for Ukraine instead of discussing the "effectiveness" of his war.

Podolyak also recalled Putin’s claims that Russian forces could allegedly reach Berlin and Paris in “three minutes.” However, Putin understands little about this as well.

Legitimacy question

According to Podolyak, Putin, who has seized power in Russia, should not be questioning the legitimacy of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Moreover, he has no connection to Ukraine’s internal political processes.

Russia does not want to negotiate

Podolyak added that Putin can only exist in a state of war, and today’s Russia has no interest in maintaining good-neighborly relations. For Russia, escalation, war, or another conflict serves as a way to distract Russians from domestic problems.

“They will not engage in any negotiations where they have to discuss matters fairly. I don’t understand the concept of talks without coercing Russia. So, it’s not about Putin boasting that ‘we can do this or that.’ No, he simply feels that the world still lacks real tools to pressure him,” Podolyak noted.

Putin’s latest statements

On January 28, Vladimir Putin claimed in an interview with Russian propagandist Pavel Zarubin that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has no right to sign any agreements after potential negotiations with Russia due to a supposed “loss of legitimacy.” He also asserted that Russia would not have continued its full-scale war if Ukraine had withdrawn from the so-called Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic.

Putin further insisted that Ukraine would be unable to fight without Western support, arguing that “sponsorship funding” and arms supplies are the key factors keeping it in the war.

Commenting on the interview, Zelenskyy stated that as talks approach, Putin will try to make the war endless.