After Vladimir Putin's stance, ‘I would recommend waiting and watching. His response is ambiguous. On the one hand, he says ‘but of course, it is clear, it is necessary’; but on the other hand he goes on to say that there are nuances. And these erase the very idea of a truce'. This was said in an interview with Repubblica by Mykhailo Podolyak, the first advisor to the Ukrainian presidency. According to Podolyak, Putin ‘refers to technical issues, such as the verification of possible violations. He is actually saying that Ukraine does not have to defend itself for 30 days by giving up military supplies, weapons production and frontline control. Let's wait and see how the negotiations between Russia and the US proceed. Let us see what Moscow is willing to do. Only on concrete decisions will we evaluate Putin's words'. Meanwhile, the summit in Saudi Arabia ‘clarified who wants to continue the war. Our experience since 2014 tells us that Moscow violates every agreement. The summit has put it in a position to have to clarify. We will see.’ Podolyak explains that ‘there are US interests, expressed repeatedly by Trump, that demand quick and effective solutions to the war. They want to have transparent economic relations with Ukraine, where they have invested considerable military and financial resources. And Ukraine is very interested in resuming effective bilateral relations: the US has a critical arsenal such as missile defence, specific munitions and intelligence. Moscow must show its true attitude with negotiations, an end to the war and a ceasefire. And it will respond negatively'.
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