On the front line! Ukraine and Russia begin the final battle, then come the negotiations

Ukraine emphatically stated its intention to hold a second peace summit as early as this fall to propose a final formula to end the war. In anticipation of this, Ukraine and Russia are seeking to make as much progress as possible on the front line now, in order to have a stronger position in the peace talks, writes The New York Times.

The "most urgent diplomacy" currently taking place between Ukraine and its partners is aimed at giving Ukrainians an opportunity to shape the battlefield in their favor, the authors of the publication claim. This is also important because the Kremlin does not seem interested in negotiations, but its opinion may change as the situation on the front changes, the article states.

"It is significant that diplomatic discussions on this topic have revived after the start of the Ukrainian operation in the Kursk region and the intensification of Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil facilities. And in the same context, diplomatic discussions continue on lifting restrictions on Western missile strikes on Russian territory," UNIAN adds.

Timofey Milovanov, president of the Kyiv School of Economics and a former Ukrainian minister of economic development, says Ukraine's enhanced military potential and ability to quickly strike Russia's strategic oil infrastructure could bring Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table.

"Putin doesn't believe in any diplomacy, he just plays the game. But I think he also wants to see evidence. You know, to bring receipts. So, does Ukraine have opportunities?", commented Milovanov.

William H. McRaven, a retired US admiral, admits that before the Kursk operation of the armed forces of Ukraine, he thought that the best possible option for peace for Ukraine was simply a ceasefire with security guarantees from allies and frozen money from Russia . But the invasion of Kursk took him by surprise and gave Ukraine a trump card.