Invasion of Ukraine - For Ukraine, it is important to win the war before winter

It is important for Ukraine to end the war before winter so as not to let the Russians settle permanently, said the head of the Ukrainian presidential cabinet Andriy Iermak in an interview published Tuesday.

 

It is very important for us not to enter the winter. After the winter, when the Russians will have more time to gain a foothold, it will certainly be more difficult. They are training us for it. It is very important for us not to give them this opportunity, Iermak told Novoe Vremia magazine. While reiterating that the weapons provided by Western allies were insufficient, he said he was counting on U.S. military aid facilitated by the land lease, the World War II lend-lease law reactivated in May by Joe Biden to support Ukraine and due to come into full effect in August. Our goal is victory, we do not envisage any other, said Mr. Iermak.

 

The official also stressed that the ongoing negotiations with Russia are only about the unblocking of ports to export Ukrainian grain that is stuck there by the conflict, and not about how to end the conflict for example. These negotiations are taking place at the level of the military and the Foreign Ministry and only with the mediation of the UN, he said. I am communicating with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, I am not communicating with the Russians, he stressed.