Mykhailo Podolyak, adviser to the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, in an interview with the German newspaper Die Welt, stated that the Russian Federation must be forced to negotiate through a comprehensive approach, as it is not ready to conduct real negotiations based on international law. Podolyak noted that Ukraine's plan includes four main elements: political, military, economic and diplomatic coercion.
Podoliak emphasized that political coercion should give a clear signal that each country has the right to choose its own path and alliances. However, the most discussed aspect is military coercion, which involves transferring the war to the territory of Russia. According to the adviser, strikes on Russian regions, such as the Kursk region, as well as other border and deep Russian territories, have not only military significance, but also a deep social impact on the population of Russia.
Military operations on the territory of the Russian Federation are aimed at destroying key infrastructure: warehouses, factories, logistics centers. This increases economic pressure, as Russia already faces severe shortages of ammunition and weapons. Podoliak emphasizes that the depletion of Russian resources is obvious, especially because the Kremlin is forced to turn to countries such as North Korea and Iran for help.
The advisor also emphasized the importance of diplomatic coercion. He pointed out that Russia spends a lot of money on war, which affects its economy and resources. At the same time, further military strikes deep into Russian territory could cause a change in sentiment among Russians, which would have serious consequences for the stability of the Kremlin. According to Podolyak, such attacks could cause social protests, which would weaken Putin's power.
One of the key aspects of Ukraine's strategy is the use of long-range Western weapons for strikes on important military facilities on the territory of Russia. Podoliak claims that this would significantly accelerate the course of the war and stop the activity of Russian troops. Attacks on critical infrastructure, such as transport hubs, could seriously affect Russia's combat capabilities and force it to negotiate.
