At a joint press conference with Irish Prime Minister Michael Martin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivered a stark forecast for the upcoming winter period. The head of state clearly outlined two possible paths for the development of events that could unfold before the onset of cold weather.
Priority — Negotiations
According to Zelenskyy, the first and priority scenario is the possibility of sitting down at the negotiating table with Russia to end the war. The President emphasized that this is where he is currently focused. However, he also added that the Ukrainian side fully understands the opponent it is dealing with and is not naive in its expectations.
An alternative to a peaceful settlement, in the opinion of the Ukrainian leader, is the expansion of hostilities. Zelenskyy pointed out that it is this option that the Russian side is always seeking, not Ukraine. In the event that Moscow chooses this path, a likely consequence will be an intensification of mobilization in the Russian Federation.
Intelligence on Kremlin Sentiments
The President of Ukraine is relying on an extensive intelligence report he received prior to the meeting. According to this information, there is a rift within Vladimir Putin's inner circle that will determine Moscow's future actions:
- There is a group of people who want to end the war. Their motivation is dictated by the visible economic and logistical collapse.
- On the other hand, there are military circles insisting on expanding the conflict and strengthening mobilization. Zelenskyy stated directly that these people "want to kill us".
Given the presence of such a threat, the Ukrainian leadership believes it necessary to prepare for a "winter survival plan." This implies preparing infrastructure and the population for a scenario in which the war will not be stopped, but rather will enter a new cycle of intensity.
