Ukraine urges caution as Trump revisits Russia peace talks

Donald Trump, although he stopped referring to "peace in 24 hours," still pledges to end the war within "100 days" or "a few months." These declarations raise concerns in Kyiv.

Mykhailo Podolyak, adviser to the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, emphasized the need for deliberate and measured decision-making. He stressed the importance of retaining control over the initiative and ensuring it is not ceded to Russia.

According to Podolyak, Kyiv has managed to at least partially convince Trump's team that the Russian aggression in Ukraine "is not so much about occupying Ukrainian territory, but about redistribution of influence" in Europe. It was explained to Trump that Putin's ultimate goal is not to capture Zaporizhzhia, but to weaken the West as much as possible.

While the Russian army is slowly advancing in Donbas, Ukraine is implementing its strategy far behind the front line. Ukrainian officials highlight long-range strikes on key Russian military industry and oil refining facilities. Podolyak emphasizes that these actions significantly impact the Russian economy, which is Putin's greatest weakness.

According to Podolyak, 46% of Russia's oil refining sector is either under attack or within reach of Ukrainian weapons, leading to a gradual weakening of this critical part of its economy. Additionally, Ukrainian forces are targeting significant military infrastructure in Russia's European regions. Sustaining this pressure is seen as essential to negotiating from a position of strength, as meaningful discussions will only be possible if Russia experiences substantial losses.

In most cases, the Russians manage to repair oil facilities "within a week." However, additional supplies of Western missiles and tightened energy sanctions may prompt Putin to limit aggression.

Source: The Telegraph