Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak
Ukraine needs to be strong to be able to negotiate with Russia on an equal footing, as it is important for Putin to continue his aggression on our territory. This was stated by the Head of the Presidential Office, Andriy Yermak, in an interview with Suspilne TV channel.
“That is why we are talking to our partners today about why it is so important to strengthen Ukraine. We need to break the Russian narrative that Ukraine wanted war. Ukraine did not want war and did not provoke Russia. Russia did not come here to defend anyone, because it does not even defend its own territory, including the Kursk region,” Yermak said.
According to him, to start negotiations, Ukraine must be strong, and only then will it be able to conduct a dialogue with Russia on equal terms. He emphasised that the Kremlin is currently using only the language of ultimatums, so Ukraine must strengthen its defence capabilities and develop a strategy for victory together with its partners.
According to Yermak, to strengthen Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented the Victory Plan, which consists of five main points:
- Geopolitical – receiving an invitation to join NATO.
- Military – a clear list of weapons that support Ukraine’s defence capability.
- Military – to create a deterrence force.
- Economic – strategic economic cooperation and increased sanctions pressure on Russia.
- Security – the post-war period and the replacement of some military contingents of the US Armed Forces with Ukrainian units.
These steps, according to Yermak, should provide Ukraine with the necessary strength and position to negotiate when it becomes possible.
