Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraine's former spymaster and now chief of staff to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has declared that ending the war with Russia before winter is a 'correct and realistic' objective. Speaking on Monday, Budanov stated, 'This is the president's instruction: to try to end this war as soon as possible ... preferably before winter. In my opinion, this is absolutely correct, timely, and realistic.'
Zelenskyy, in an interview aired on Sunday, called for reviving stalled peace talks with Russia before winter, citing Kyiv's improved strategic position on the battlefield. A senior Ukrainian commander had previously indicated that Ukraine has a six-month window to seize the initiative and strengthen its hand for negotiations.
Budanov also mentioned that a US delegation is expected to visit Moscow and Kyiv in the near future, though he provided no further details. Meanwhile, Kyiv endured heavy Russian attacks early on Tuesday, with authorities urging residents to take shelter. Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported a fire in the Podil district at a non-residential property and a nine-storey apartment building ablaze after debris struck its roof. In the Obolon district, cars were set on fire by falling missile debris, and fires broke out near a kindergarten. Air defences were active, according to Reuters and Agence France-Presse journalists and witnesses.
Zelenskyy reiterated warnings of a potential massive Russian strike and urged residents to heed air raid alerts. In international news, France detained a suspected Russian 'shadow fleet' oil tanker, the Tagor, in the Atlantic on Sunday morning, assisted by the UK and other partners. The vessel, which departed Murmansk and was headed for Cameroon under a false flag, is being escorted to anchorage for inspection. Moscow has complained of piracy, but French President Emmanuel Macron insisted the operation complied with the law of the sea, stating, 'It is unacceptable for ships to circumvent international sanctions, violate the law of the sea, and finance the war that Russia has been waging against Ukraine for more than four years.'
Zelenskyy also claimed that Ukraine's military can target Russian logistics across virtually the entire depth of occupied territories, leaving 'almost no safe roads left for the occupier in the south and east.' Domestically, Russia plans to increase fuel supplies from Belarus and tighten oversight of gasoline and diesel exports due to shortages. A complete ban on gasoline exports for two months is under discussion. Fuel sales in occupied Sevastopol, Crimea, were limited on Tuesday due to rationing caused by Ukrainian attacks. Russia also banned aviation fuel exports until the end of November.
At the UN on Monday, dozens of countries condemned Russia after a Russian drone struck a Romanian apartment building, injuring two people. Romanian Foreign Minister Oana-Silvia Toiu, representing 56 UN members including EU and NATO states, declared, 'Such behaviour is unacceptable under international law and must stop.'
