Negotiating with Russia is not an option until there is a significant change on the battlefield, according to Mikhail Podoliak, a top aide to Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky. In an interview with Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, Podoliak claimed that Moscow is under the illusion that it can maintain control over the territories it captured from Ukraine. He argued that Russia needs to experience “significant tactical defeats on the front line” in order to have a more realistic understanding of the situation and for peace talks to be possible.
However, Ukraine’s counteroffensive, which was launched nearly three months ago with the aim of cutting off Russia’s land bridge to Crimea, has failed to deliver the desired results. Kiev’s losses, as estimated by Russia, amounted to over 43,000 troops and nearly 5,000 pieces of heavy equipment by early August. Ukrainian officials have only reported the seizure of a few villages that are not part of the main Russian defense lines.
Podoliak was asked about discussing the status of Crimea, which became part of Russia in 2014 following a referendum after a violent coup in Kiev. In response, he referred to Zelensky’s earlier statements, stating that officials in Moscow must be put in a situation where they have to choose between losing everything or abandoning Crimea. This can only be accomplished by Ukrainian forces reaching the borders of the peninsula and destroying the weapons that enable Moscow to control it.
Despite ruling out negotiations with Moscow, Podoliak emphasized that Russian President Vladimir Putin sees their willingness for dialogue as a weakness that he can exploit to his advantage.
Russia has consistently stated its readiness to seek a peaceful settlement to the conflict through diplomatic means. However, it has highlighted the lack of willingness from Kiev or its Western backers to engage in diplomacy, leaving Russia with no other option but to continue working towards its goals in Ukraine through military action.
Last fall, Zelensky signed a decree prohibiting himself from engaging in talks with Putin. The Ukrainian leader has been advocating for a ten-point peace plan, which includes Russia’s withdrawal to the borders claimed by Kiev, payment of reparations, and submission to war crimes tribunals. Moscow promptly rejected the proposal as unrealistic.
It is clear that negotiations between Ukraine and Russia are currently at a standstill. Until there is a significant shift on the battlefield and both sides demonstrate a genuine willingness to engage in dialogue, the prospects for peace talks remain uncertain. In the meantime, the conflict in Ukraine continues to escalate, with no immediate resolution in sight.
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