Putin hopes to break Ukraine this winter, so he has no motivation for talks - Kyslytsia
After the start of winter and at least until mid-March, Vladimir Putin will have even less motivation to agree to negotiations on ending the war. The Kremlin expects that Ukraine will not withstand another winter, stated First Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Serhiy Kyslytsia.
According to him, there are currently no signs that the Russian president truly seeks to end hostilities or move to substantive negotiations.
"Putin now has no desire to sit at the negotiating table, and after the start of winter and until its end, that is, at least until mid-March, he will have even less motivation, because he will believe that Ukrainians are not strong enough as a nation to survive this winter", - stated Kyslytsia.
He emphasized that diplomatic work cannot be stopped under such conditions. Moscow, according to him, is trying to convince other countries that Ukraine is allegedly not interested in ending the war and rejects Russian proposals.
Therefore, Kyiv, according to Kyslytsia, should continue to demonstrate readiness for negotiations, maintain contacts with the American side and explain its own position even in the absence of a real desire by the Kremlin to negotiate.
"We are ready to sit at the negotiating table, ready to listen to the American side, talk to the Russians and present our arguments why this war must end", - he said.
Kyslytsia also distinguished between cessation of hostilities and a full-fledged peace agreement. In his assessment, it is realistic now to speak primarily about finding a mechanism to stop the war, while agreeing with Russia on a sustainable peace under current conditions is practically impossible.
The First Deputy Head of the Presidential Office also noted that Ukraine expects more active participation by the United States in the negotiation process. American negotiators previously promised to come to Ukraine, but the visit has not yet taken place. At the same time, contacts between the sides, according to him, continue regularly.
Kyslytsia believes that the period from June to August became particularly active in relations between Kyiv and Washington. He recalled a series of conversations and meetings of Volodymyr Zelenskyy with the US President and said that the level of mutual understanding between the sides increased significantly during that period.
According to him, Washington's position gradually changed from claims about Ukraine's weak negotiating positions to an understanding that Russia is unable to win the war. At the same time, Kyslytsia emphasized that this does not mean defeat for Russia.
As of the end of summer, the negotiation track involving the United States is effectively on pause, and prospects for new contacts with Russia remain uncertain.
Based on materials from: Ukrinform
