Kyslytsia: Putin has no incentive to negotiate as he counts on Ukraine splitting apart this winter

Serhii Kyslytsia, the First Deputy Head of Ukraine's Presidential Office, recently expressed his belief that Russian President Putin lacks any motivation to engage in negotiations. Instead, Kyslytsia predicts that Putin will focus on dividing Ukrainian society during the winter months, from now until mid-March. He asserts that Russia's strategy for the upcoming winter is predicated on the notion that some Ukrainians will not survive, others will flee, and still others will turn against their own government.

Kyslytsia emphasizes that Ukraine managed to endure last winter's challenges, including power outages, with grace and resilience. However, he warns that Russia's stockpiles of anti-ballistic weapons have been depleted as a result of the armed conflict in Iran, which began in late February. This, he claims, will put Ukraine's resilience to the test during this winter.

The first deputy head of the Presidential Office adds that the enemy can only triumph in this scenario if Ukraine fails to maintain its unity. Major General Vadym Skibitskyi, deputy head of the Main Intelligence Directorate within the Ministry of Defense, further supports this viewpoint. He notes that Russia is not prepared to halt hostilities on the front lines, and that in the fall and winter, they will prioritize targeting defense industry facilities, energy infrastructure, logistics systems, and gas stations.