From the city’s devastated capital of Kyiv, Fox News’ Alex Hogan reports on the most recent developments in the battle in Ukraine.
NEW Fox News articles can now be heard on audio! Mykhailo Podolyak, a prominent adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the lead negotiator in peace negotiations with Russia, stated on Thursday that Kyiv needs four “components” before talks with Moscow can move forward, all of which include sophisticated military hardware.
“You must be in a favorable bargaining position in order to speak with “the Russian Federation.” It has 4 straightforward parts, “He tweeted this.
According to Podolyak, Ukraine need long-range artillery, MRLS like HIMARS, and Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS), which have a range of about 185 miles.
In this file photo from May 23, 2011, a launch truck shoots the Lockheed Martin High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS). (AP Photo/Tony Overman/The Olympian)
The US has already committed to sending at least 20 HIMARS to Kyiv, but has refrained from sending ATACMS out of worry that it might start a third World War.
Oleksii Reznikov, the Ukrainian defense minister, stated last month that his country’s forces require at least 50 HIMARS-style systems to “keep back” Russian forces and at least 100 systems “for an effective counteroffensive.”
Senior Ukrainian defense officials have told Fox New Digital that the country needs ATACMS systems to better manage the massive 1,500-mile frontline its forces are facing, rather than to attack Russia from outside its borders.
In addition, Podolyak identified Kyiv’s top demands as “air defense to protect cities, shock drones the greatest hunters, and armored vehicles for counter-offensives.”
The Army of Drones Project is now in the process of presenting 30 DJI Matrice 300 RTK drones to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. (Image courtesy of Evgen Kotenko/Ukrinform/Future Publishing via Getty Images) )
Since the battle started in February, the U.S. and its friends in the West have given Kyiv drones and armored vehicles, while Ukrainian officials have continued to warn that Kyiv does not have enough.
As NATO countries have not yet sent Ukraine any warplanes, the fight for sophisticated air defenses to assist defend Ukrainian skies continues.
One day prior, Podolyaks refuted assertions made by former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder that the recent grain export agreement indicates Russian President Vladimir Putin wants a “negotiated settlement” in a tweet on Thursday.
The Kremlin wants to reach a negotiated agreement, which is good news, Schroeder told German media. “The grain agreement is a first success; perhaps it can be gradually developed into a ceasefire.”
As Russia resumed its murderous attack in Ukraine, peace negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow came to an end in May, according to Ukrainian officials.
On Wednesday, Podolyak stated, “It is up to Moscow whether or not it wants conversation. There should be a cease-fire and a troop retreat before productive “talks.”
Reporter Caitlin McFall works for Fox News Digital. Her email address is caitlin.mcfall@fox.com, and her Twitter handle is @ctlnmcfall.
