Ukrainian official: Putin wants to destroy several more Ukrainian cities and kill several tens of thousands of people

Translating from UNIAN, May 17:

"The Office of the Ukrainian President Explained Why Putin Doesn't Want a Ceasefire Now 

Russian dictator and war initiator Vladimir Putin intends to attack the front in the summer rather than negotiate a ceasefire, adviser to the head of the President's Office Sergei Leshchenko reported... 

"It is clear that Russia has an appetite for war. For them, war is a national idea that has united society and allowed Putin to either kill all opponents, or expel them from the country, or put them in prison, and suppress the oligarchs, and completely concentrate all power. It is clear that this is comfortable, and it is clear that he does not want to lose the summer, because the summer period is always an opportunity to attack more actively at the front than in winter," Leshchenko emphasized.

At the same time, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin’s intention to continue waging war is completely at odds with all the efforts made by US President Donald Trump and his administration, European partners and Ukraine to achieve a ceasefire. 

"Russia does not want this. And Istanbul was important precisely as a moment to record this result. Everyone can see who wants to continue fighting and killing, and who does not," Leshchenko added. He noted that he expects decisive action now from the United States. In particular, the adviser noted that in the US Congress, Senator Lindsey Graham has prepared a bill on sanctions, which provides for a 500% duty for those who trade with Russia, and the Europeans are ready to accept this vision and record such a decision at the EU level. "This time has come. It is time to act. I hope that our partners will hear us and act as they should. And there will be no such attempts to flirt with the aggressor," Leshchenko noted.

He also expressed the opinion that Ukrainians have already developed immunity to statements about "the most difficult days" and "the most difficult weeks." "It will be difficult for Ukraine, because we must convince our partners that it is time to act. And partners, you see, sometimes prefer to hold another round of negotiations, to meet personally with Putin, as we are now hearing from Washington - to hold a telephone conversation and, perhaps, this will influence something. If it does, then we are all for it. But so that this is not just a gain in time, because during the summer campaign Putin wants to destroy several more Ukrainian cities and kill several tens of thousands of his own citizens, and, unfortunately, Ukrainians too," Leshchenko emphasized."