Mykhailo Podolyak: Russia must show willingness to negotiate

Since the beginning of the year, during the involvement of the US in negotiations with Moscow and Kyiv, the number of air attacks on Ukraine, specifically targeting civilians, has sharply increased, Mykhailo Podolyak, advisor to the President's Office of Ukraine, told Report’s Eastern European Bureau.

He reported that in April alone, during these attacks on Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, more than 850 civilians were killed. According to Podolyak, around 5,000 different missiles and drones were used to strike major Ukrainian cities.

"Without halting mutual strikes, for instance, without 30 days of calm, it is impossible to speak of any political possibilities. That is, Russia must demonstrate its readiness for the negotiation process," he believes.

According to Podolyak, this willingness is currently lacking and this is unlikely to change.

Podolyak noted that Ukraine was ready to agree to a 30-day ceasefire.

"We were ready not to strike at energy infrastructure for a month. Russia refused. There is no point in discussing how political negotiations can proceed with Russia if it refuses to cease fire," Podolyak emphasized.