Russia Is Raising the Stakes Ahead of Talks with the U.S. — Zelenskyy
According to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Russia is deliberately escalating tensions ahead of potential negotiations with the United States. He believes that Russian President Vladimir Putin is attempting to provoke a response from Ukraine and secure a more advantageous position ahead of upcoming talks with the U.S. side.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Russia may be deliberately escalating the situation ahead of potential negotiations with the U.S. In his view, Moscow is trying to raise the stakes ahead of diplomatic contacts. “In my opinion, he (Putin—ed.) is deliberately escalating everything as much as possible so that Ukraine will respond. So that he can continue the escalation and keep raising the stakes as much as possible ahead of any talks with the Americans,” Zelenskyy said while speaking with journalists.
According to the president, Russia is intensifying pressure ahead of potential talks with the U.S., counting on a further reaction from Ukraine. Zelenskyy has repeatedly emphasized that the negotiation process remains important, but at the same time, Ukraine must continue to defend itself against Russian attacks.
Ukraine Will Continue to Defend Itself
Zelenskyy stated that the response to Russian attacks must be to strengthen Ukraine’s defenses. This includes, in particular, the operation of air defense systems and the destruction of Russian targets. At the same time, he said, Ukraine must not abandon the diplomatic track. In other words, a military response and negotiations must proceed in parallel.
Ukraine has recently been paying special attention to defending against new aerial threats. These include jet-powered strike drones and ballistic missiles. Zelenskyy previously stated that Ukraine is accelerating the production of interceptor drones and seeking additional solutions to protect critical infrastructure.
Zelenskyy links the escalation to the situation on the front lines
The president also offered his assessment of the reasons behind the intensification of Russian attacks. According to him, Russia is stepping up its air operations because it lacks sufficient capabilities to achieve its desired results on the ground. This is Zelenskyy’s assessment, not an independently verified conclusion about the capabilities of the Russian military.
Amid the new attacks, Ukraine continues to appeal to its partners for additional air defense assistance. In late September, Zelenskyy discussed with partners strengthening defenses against Russian ballistic missiles and developing interceptor missiles for the Patriot system.
The negotiation process remains important
At the same time, Zelenskyy emphasizes that Ukraine is ready to pursue a diplomatic path. Earlier, the president stated that Kyiv supports the resumption of the negotiation process and is ready to participate in various formats if they can bring the war closer to an end. According to the president, it is important that not only the Ukrainian side be ready for negotiations. He also emphasized the need for corresponding steps on Russia’s part.
Thus, Zelenskyy believes that the current intensification of Russian attacks may be linked to Moscow’s desire to strengthen its position ahead of potential talks with the U.S. At the same time, Ukraine plans to simultaneously strengthen its defenses and continue its diplomatic efforts. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made this statement during a briefing with the media.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Yevhen Khmara met with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and presented him with a list of weapons needed by the Armed Forces. Among the requests are ammunition for F-16 fighter jets, as well as missiles for the IRIS-T and Patriot air defense systems. The parties also discussed the threat posed by jet drones and ballistic missiles, and how partners can help Ukraine strengthen its air defenses.
