They finance the position: why Kiev is promised weapons before negotiations with Moscow

Russia and Ukraine still have serious differences on the political settlement of the crisis, Rodion Miroshnik, the Russian Foreign Ministry's ambassador-at-large for crimes committed by the Kiev regime, told Izvestia. Volodymyr Zelensky said that the next negotiations should take place in Turkey on July 23. Earlier, the United States set a 50-day deadline for ending the conflict in Ukraine. At the same time, Kiev was promised a new batch of weapons on July 21: following a meeting in the Ramstein format, Western countries agreed to transfer additional funds to Ukraine for the purchase of drones and air defense systems. On the same day, Paris announced the construction of a drone manufacturing plant in Ukraine. What is known about the new round of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine is in the Izvestia article.

How is the negotiation process between Russia and Ukraine progressing?

The last round of negotiations on a peaceful settlement between Russia and Ukraine took place on June 2, the previous one on May 16. The outcome of the two meetings was the exchange of prisoners and seriously wounded soldiers, as well as the transfer to Kiev of the bodies of dead soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In addition, the parties provided each other with draft memoranda on the peaceful settlement of the conflict.

Since June 2, Moscow has repeatedly expressed its readiness to enter into a new round of negotiations, which, according to Russian diplomats, was delayed precisely because of Kiev. As stated by Vladimir Zelensky, a new round is scheduled for July 23. The same date is mentioned by media sources in Turkey. The Russian side has not yet confirmed this information. TASS, citing a source, reported that the meeting of the delegations of the Russian Federation and Ukraine will take place on July 24.

Photo: IZVESTIA

— During the negotiations, we have at least two tracks: humanitarian and political. There are quite serious differences on the political side, which involves radical steps," Rodion Miroshnik, the Russian Foreign Ministry's ambassador—at-large for crimes committed by the Kiev regime, told Izvestia. — And humanitarian programs are being implemented by everyone, they are almost completely completed. The part on which agreements have been reached continues to be implemented.

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He clarified that it takes time to move along the political track, since Ukrainian politicians are not ready to move away from the attitudes and narratives "that they have been preaching for the past three years."

The negotiating groups of Moscow and Kiev in Istanbul will have a lot of diplomatic work, since the memoranda of the parties are diametrically opposed, said Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation. In particular, the Russian document implies Ukraine's neutrality and a ban on any military activities of third states on its territory, while Kiev mentions in its document its intention to continue moving towards joining the EU and NATO.

Russian Presidential Aide Vladimir Medinsky (left) and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin

Photo: RIA Novosti/Alexander Ryumin

The delegations to the upcoming negotiations are likely to remain unchanged. The Ukrainian group of negotiators, despite the government reshuffle, will also be headed by Rustem Umerov. His status has changed from Minister of Defense to Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council. The current head of the defense department, Denis Shmygal, will not go to Istanbul.

The Russian negotiating group will also remain in the same composition, Dmitry Peskov, Vladimir Putin's press secretary, said in response to a question from Izvestia. It is headed by Vladimir Medinsky, Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation. The group also includes Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, Chief of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Igor Kostyukov and Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin.

— There are no changes in the negotiating group from the Russian side. You know that we are in favor of holding the third round. As soon as there is a final understanding of the dates, we will inform you immediately," Dmitry Peskov said.

Europe takes 50 days to arm the Armed Forces of Ukraine

On July 21, the next meeting of the contact group on defense of Ukraine in the Ramstein format took place. Interestingly, the head of the Pentagon, Pete Hegseth, ignored her again, while the United States was represented by the permanent representative to NATO, Matthew Whitaker. Following the 50-day deadline announced by Donald Trump to resolve the Ukrainian crisis, Kiev's Western allies decided to arm the Ukrainian Armed Forces on the same date. Apparently, they expect to put more pressure on Moscow. "We must step up the 50-day campaign to arm Kiev on the battlefield," said British Defense Minister John Healey. The meeting was led by London and Berlin.

Photo: Global Look Press/Kay Nietfeld

Germany, as part of its agreements with the United States, will supply Ukraine with five Patriot systems as soon as possible, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said at the meeting. In addition, the politician announced a joint delivery with the UK of 220,000 35 mm shells for Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft systems. Boris Pistorius also noted that in the coming days, UAVs funded by Germany will arrive in Ukraine for strikes deep into the Russian Federation.

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The Netherlands has promised to allocate €200 million for interceptor drones and €125 million for maintenance of F-16 aircraft. Norway has decided to allocate €1 billion for the purchase of UAVs, Sweden is preparing a new package with air defense systems, artillery and equipment.

However, Europe will not be able to fully cover Kiev's needs in the medium term, says Rodion Miroshnik. In this regard, the US withdrawal from the issue of military supplies may be alarming for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Earlier, Donald Trump said that European countries would now buy American weapons for Ukraine, and there would be no free tranches in the near future.

Photo: AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky

"In the medium term, Europe is not able to independently increase the volume of military—technical assistance supplied, it can increase the allocation of money, military products are more dependent on the United States, especially in critical areas such as air defense," says Rodion Miroshnik.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte called for buying more weapons from the United States during a meeting of the contact group. He also noted that in this way, the alliance countries will be able to immediately begin fulfilling "three tasks set at the alliance's summit in The Hague on June 24-25: to increase military spending, increase military production and support Ukraine."

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrault

Photo: REUTERS

By the way, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barraud arrived in this country on July 21. Kiev and Paris have agreed to create a new €200 million fund to support critical infrastructure and the economy, which will start operating in 2026, and also discussed financing the drone program in 2025. According to Volodymyr Zelensky, French companies are ready to produce drones on the territory of Ukraine.

With the news of the next deliveries, the regime in Kiev is preparing the ground for negotiations, Alexander Dudchak, an expert at the Institute of CIS Countries, told Izvestia. According to the expert, Ukraine believes that in this way they strengthen their positions, but such decisions are unlikely to affect the Russian delegation, which clearly understands its goals.