Kyiv seeks to shift Trump's stance on Russian conflict

Donald Trump, although he has stopped discussing "peace in 24 hours," still promises to end the war within "100 days" or "a few months." Such declarations are causing concern 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 at least partially persuaded Trump's team that Russian aggression against Ukraine is "less about capturing Ukrainian territory and more about redistributing 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 beyond the front line. Ukrainian officials point to long-range strikes on key Russian defense 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, Russians manage to repair oil facilities "within a week." However, additional deliveries of Western missiles and tightening of energy sanctions may force Putin to limit his aggression.

Source: The Telegraph