“They demand surrender”: the government announced the intention of the Russian Federation to break through to five Ukrainian cities

The situation in Ukraine remains complex. Russian troops are pursuing aggressive political goals, including the desire to reach the geographical borders of several Ukrainian regions. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced this in an interview with the Spanish newspaper El Pais.

According to Shmyhal, the front is currently relatively stable, but the Russians are not stopping their offensive operations. “They have set themselves absurd political goals, such as occupying parts of Zaporizhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, Sumy regions, even, perhaps, Chernihiv region, to use this as leverage in future negotiations and force Ukraine to surrender. This is unacceptable,” he stressed.

The Prime Minister also noted that Ukraine receives support from its partners and will continue to resist. Answering the question about the necessary assistance from the allies, he emphasized the importance of air defense systems, such as the Patriot and Hawk, among others.

“We need more defensive weapons because Russia has significantly increased the production of drones and missiles. They launch from 300 to 500 drones and missiles every day. It is also essential to cooperate in the production of drones because they can significantly affect combat operations and help not only in defense but also in counteroffensives,” Shmyhal added.

Additionally, Ukraine is insisting on new sanctions against Russia. In his opinion, pressure on the aggressor should be comprehensive, encompassing both the military and economic fronts. “This will limit their opportunities for manipulation and development. Ultimately, they will have to sit down at the negotiating table and ask for peace. This is our strategy,” the prime minister summed up.