Russia pulls back from diplomacy again, Zelenskyy reveals what will force Putin negotiate
Ukraine’s President said halting the war along the current front line could serve as a basis for peace talks, but Russia’s readiness for diplomacy directly depends on Kyiv’s long-range strike capabilities.
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President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy / © Office of the President of Ukraine / © Офіс президента України
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy reaffirmed Kyiv’s readiness to end the war and emphasized that the current line of contact could serve as the basis for organizing dialogue. In his view, Ukraine’s long-range capabilities are key to a productive negotiation process.
He said this in his evening address to Ukrainians on Tuesday, October 21.
Key to peace lies in long-range capabilities
The Head of State reported that, following a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, an agreement was reached to attempt to build a peaceful dialogue based on «the line that exists now.» Zelenskyy noted that Trump had publicly signaled this approach to his team.
«The frontline can be the starting point for diplomacy. Yet Russia is once again doing everything to evade diplomacy, ” Zelenskyy declared.
The Ukrainian President underscored the direct dependence of the Kremlin’s readiness for talks on Ukraine’s military capabilities.
«As soon as the issue of long-range capabilities for us — for Ukraine — became less immediate, Russia’s interest in diplomacy faded almost automatically, ” the President observed.
«Tomahawks» as an investment in diplomacy
Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the deep strike capabilities an indispensable key to peace. He noted that the discussion about potentially supplying Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles proved to be a «major investment in diplomacy.»
«We forced Russia to reveal that Tomahawks are precisely the card they take seriously, ” the President stressed.
According to him, «the more long-range capabilities Ukraine has, the greater Russia’s willingness to end the war.» The President added that Ukraine will continue negotiations on long-range capabilities with both European and American partners, though air defense remains, undoubtedly, the priority.