Russia primarily seeking capitulation of West, not Ukrainian territories - Ukraine's Presidential Office
Photo: Mykhailo Podolyak, advisor to the head of the President's Office (president.gov.ua)
Today, for the Russian Federation, the key goal is not only to capture additional kilometers of Ukrainian territory but also to achieve concessions from the West, states Mykhailo Podolyak, advisor to the head of the President's Office, in a comment to a YouTube channel.
According to Podolyak, the main goal of the Kremlin today is not so much the capitulation of Ukraine, but rather obtaining concessions from the United States and the European Union. Moscow seeks for the West to stop supporting Kyiv and agree to plans that would bring an end to the war in line with Russia's ultimatums. These demands would include the recognition of Russia's already occupied territories, avoiding any responsibility for starting the war, and creating conditions under which Moscow's defeat would become impossible.
Moreover, in domestic propaganda, even defeat will be presented in Russia as a victory, albeit a temporary one. Achieving these goals is a top priority for Moscow.
Possible negotiations between Russia and Ukraine
The 47th US President, Donald Trump, has repeatedly expressed intentions to initiate a negotiation process between Ukraine and the Russian Federation if he returns to the White House. However, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warns against rushing to end the war, as it could play into the aggressor's hands.
Zelenskyy emphasizes that the location of the negotiations will not play a decisive role if Ukraine finds itself in a more vulnerable position compared to Russia. Such a scenario could lead to significant losses for the Ukrainian side.
As reported by CNN, the US administration is considering an option in which, before starting peace talks, the parties would need to agree on a ceasefire along the current front line. This could become a condition for initiating dialogue between the countries.
