In the face of escalating tensions with Russia, Ukraine is actively seeking increased military aid from Western allies.
According to a senior advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Mykhaylo Podolyak, a key figure in Zelenskyy's administration since 2020, in an interview with RFE/RL's Current Time that Kyiv is in "active consultations" with U.S. and European officials to augment the supply of various tools for conducting counter-war operations.
As reported by American Military News, Podolyak expressed concern over Russia's current expenditure and future plans, stating, "We understand how much Russia is spending right now, and what they will do next what resources they're using along the front or deeper into Ukrainian territory."
He further emphasized the ongoing negotiations to increase the inflow of certain types of weapons into Ukraine, including long-range missiles and drones, which he believes can effectively influence the course of the war.
In a recent briefing, President Zelenskyy expressed hope that Ukraine could secure at least $1 billion a month from supportive countries to purchase U.S. weapons. This comes as Russia continues its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, launched in February 2022, despite recent summits in the United States involving U.S. President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and European leaders.
The situation in Ukraine remains dire, with Russian attacks in the Sumy region resulting in civilian casualties and numerous battles fought along the front lines. Despite these ongoing hostilities, President Trump has been actively seeking to broker an end to the war, pressing for a face-to-face meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy, who have not met in person since 2019.
President Zelenskyy has shown willingness to meet with Putin, even attempting to arrange a meeting during lower-level peace talks in Istanbul in May. He believes that a meeting with Putin would be "the most effective way forward." However, Russia has so far resisted these efforts, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stating that Putin is ready to meet with Zelenskyy only when the agenda for a summit is fully prepared.
Podolyak, however, expressed skepticism about Russia's intentions, stating that a meeting between the two presidents would only be possible "if Russia had the desire to genuinely engage in a realistic conversation about ending the war." He further criticized Russia's current war policy, which he believes is based on buying time, refusing to accept a comprehensive ceasefire plan, and avoiding further sanctions.
Lavrov, in his interview with NBC News, claimed that comments from Europeans following the Alaska summit and at the gathering in Washington indicated that "they don't want peace." He also raised objections to plans that Ukraine's Western backers are trying to hammer out for security guarantees for Kyiv in the event of a peace deal.
He suggested that the permanent UN Security Council members should be the guarantors of Ukraine's security, a proposal that has been rejected by Kyiv and other allies.
The ongoing conflict and the complex geopolitical dynamics surrounding it underscore the urgency of Ukraine's plea for increased military aid. As the situation continues to evolve, the international community will be watching closely to see how these negotiations unfold and what impact they may have on the future of Ukraine and its relations with both its Western allies and Russia.
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