Jens Asbjørn Bøgen
Political determination alone is not enough, though.
An opportunity exists to wrap up the fight with Russia in the coming months, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Speaking to The Wall Street Journal on September 23, the Ukrainian leader outlined what he believes could deliver a fair peace within two months. Everything starts with leadership in Washington.
“We have a chance to stop and end this war before winter, if… There are several ‘ifs.’ Of course, the first ‘if’ is always will. The will of the United States, especially the president. It is precisely about the political will to end this war,” Zelenskyy said in the interview.
Still, political determination alone will not convince Vladimir Putin to back down. Extra pressure must accompany those diplomatic efforts.
A winter package
Advanced American technology forms the second crucial element. Ukraine urgently requires air defense interceptors to shield its critical infrastructure through the cold months ahead.
“The second ‘if’ is technology. We need some technologies from the United States. We have our experience, we are always ready to share it, but we need something from the US. We need a ‘winter package’: missiles for Patriot systems. Only the US produces them now,” Zelenskyy stated.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Zelenskyy brought up this specific request during a meeting with US President Donald Trump in New York on September 22.
Beyond asking for Patriot air defense capabilities, Kyiv expects Washington to push for an agreement that stops strikes on power networks.
Immediate priorities
Securing these interceptors has become a top defense priority for Ukrainian leaders. They estimate that around 300 Patriot missiles are needed for the winter, averaging roughly 100 per month.
Long-term talks are underway regarding domestic manufacturing licenses. Even so, getting immediate supplies remains the top priority since building local production lines takes time.
Kyiv remains ready for reciprocal de-escalation if Russia halts its strikes on energy sites, infrastructure, and grain exports.
Operation Vivaldi turning the tables
Ukrainian forces have recaptured 125 square kilometers of territory in the northern Donetsk region during an extended military campaign dubbed Operation Vivaldi.
The push recently liberated several key settlements, including Drobysheve, Shandryholove, and Derylove.
Success came down to a radical battlefield tactic. Commanders routinely deployed remote machines onto active front lines long before human infantry stepped onto exposed ground.
“During assault operations, drones and unmanned ground vehicles always move ahead of the infantry,” Brigadier General Andrii Biletskyi, commander of the Third Army Corps, stated on Telegram.
