Latest news with #MikhailPodoliak
Russia Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
Ukraine ready to discuss aerial ceasefire
Ukraine is prepared to discuss an aerial ceasefire with Russia as a stepping stone towards further talks for settling the conflict, Mikhail Podoliak, an adviser to Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky, has said. This spring, Russia agreed to a US-backed proposal for a 30-day pause on strikes on energy infrastructure, which was violated on multiple occasions by Kiev. In an interview with the Corriere della Sera on Tuesday, Podoliak gave his take on the upcoming summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart, Donald Trump, set for August 15 in Alaska, which is expected to revolve around the Ukraine conflict. One US scenario for settling the conflict envisaged a comprehensive ceasefire 'which would also take into account the impact of air strikes, including missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian territory,' Podoliak noted. 'Ukraine is ready to discuss it, is ready to consider this scenario, and sees it as the initial stage for reaching realistic negotiating positions,' he said. He also stressed that it is impossible to settle the conflict without a trilateral meeting between Trump, Zelensky and Putin. Any talks with Zelensky should be preceded by significant diplomatic progress, Moscow has maintained, while voicing concern about his right to sign any binding agreements, given that his presidential term expired last year. Russia has, on several occasions in the conflict, floated options for a limited ceasefire. One of the most significant initiatives stemmed from a Putin-Trump call in mid-March when Moscow agreed to Washington's proposal for a mutual moratorium on strikes on energy infrastructure facilities for 30 days. While Ukraine generally signed on the initiative, Moscow accused it of violating the agreement on a daily basis. Despite this, the Kremlin said at the time it had honored the deal as a gesture of goodwill toward the US. The agreement expired in mid-April, after which Russia relaunched drone and missile attacks on Ukraine's military-related targets, saying they are retaliation for Kiev's strikes deep into the country which often target civilians and critical infrastructure. Moscow has also insisted its attacks are never aimed at civilians.
Time of India
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Zelensky's Message to Trump After Russia's BIGGEST Aerial Attack on Kyiv Since 2022
After Russia pounded Kyiv and other regions in the biggest aerial assault since 2022, Ukraine has once again turned to United States' help in the conflict. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky's advisor Mikhail Podoliak said that Kyiv cannot afford losing Washington's military help in its conflict with Moscow. Under the previous Joe Biden administration, the U.S. was the largest military donor to Ukraine. Read More
Russia Today
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Ukraine ‘can't afford' it if US quits conflict
Ukraine can't afford to lose US military aid in its conflict with Russia, Mikhail Podoliak, adviser to Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky, told the French newspaper Le Point on Friday. According to the official, US support is 'essential' for Kiev's war effort. Under the previous US administration, Washington was Kiev's largest donor. Since returning to office earlier this year, however, US President Donald Trump has not approved any new military aid for Ukraine, while the last remaining assistance package authorized under former President Joe Biden is expected to run out by mid-summer. Despite pledging on the campaign trail to end the Ukraine conflict within 24 hours, Trump has recently warned he may 'back away' from peace mediation unless Kiev and Moscow reach a deal. He has also questioned US commitments to NATO allies unless they boost defense spending, repeatedly insisting the EU should handle its own security and regional conflicts without depending on Washington. Podoliak praised Europe for taking a firm pro-Ukrainian stance in the current conflict, but said it is currently too busy with its own rearmament to sufficiently support Kiev. 'Europe is rearming and changing its foreign and military policy… however, this transformation takes time. Unfortunately for Ukraine, that time is measured in lives lost,' he stated. 'We cannot afford to let the United States disengage from this war, because its military support is essential for both Europe and Ukraine,' he said, reiterating Kiev's warnings that Russia 'is a threat to Europe' and 'wants to dominate' it – claims that Moscow has repeatedly dismissed as nonsense. Russia has repeatedly condemned Western military aid to Ukraine, stating that it merely prolongs the conflict and hinders peace efforts. Last week, Russia and Ukraine held their first direct peace talks in three years in Istanbul. Both delegations agreed to stay in contact and to carry out a 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner-of-war swap, which transpired on Sunday. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow and Kiev are expected to exchange draft ceasefire proposals once the swap is finished.
