Ukraine is ramping up diplomatic efforts to secure a larger supply of Western weapons, as the advisor to the head of the President’s Office, Mykhailo Podolyak, states that Russia shows no interest in a peaceful resolution to the war. Podolyak shared this in an interview with the television channel “Current Time.”
This is reported by Kyiv24
Active Consultations on Weapon Supplies
According to the advisor, Kyiv is engaged in intensive negotiations with representatives from the United States and Europe aimed at expanding the supply of various types of weapons for conducting counter-war operations. The Ukrainian side is paying particular attention to acquiring long-range missiles and drones, which, according to Podolyak, should become one of the priority areas for effectively influencing the course of the war.
“Accordingly, consultations and negotiations are ongoing regarding the increase of certain types of weapons to Ukraine… Long-range missiles, long-range drones – this is one of the priority areas today that truly allows us to effectively influence the course of this war,” he said.
Negotiations on a Meeting Between Zelensky and Putin
After talks with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre in Kyiv, Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine expects at least one billion dollars per month from allies for the purchase of American weapons. Meanwhile, Russia continues its full-scale invasion, which began in February 2022, despite recent summits involving U.S. President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and European leaders.
Donald Trump, who has been in office as U.S. President since January, is making efforts to act as a mediator in the peace process. He initiated a meeting with Putin in Alaska on August 15, and just three days later, a meeting with Zelensky and European leaders took place at the White House. Following this, Trump called for a personal meeting between Zelensky and Putin, which has not occurred since 2019.
Volodymyr Zelensky has already agreed to such a meeting and attempted to organize it during peace talks in Istanbul in May. During the celebrations for Independence Day on August 24, the President of Ukraine stated that he sees a meeting with Putin as the most effective way to move forward. Zelensky also mentioned that he plans to discuss preparations for a possible meeting with Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg.
However, the Russian Federation has yet to show readiness for such a summit. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov explained that a meeting between Putin and Zelensky is only possible after agreeing on an agenda, which is currently absent. Podolyak emphasized that Russia has no genuine intention to end the war, particularly the shelling of civilian infrastructure and peaceful residents.