In a new episode of “Beyond the Headlines,” journalist and publicist Vitaliy Portnikov discusses the issue of supplying Ukraine with long-range weapons, including Tomahawks, and their impact on the course of the war. Portnikov notes that these missiles will not radically change the situation on the front, but their transfer could affect allied support for Ukraine. In his view, long-range weapons increase Ukraine’s defensive capabilities and may push Russia toward ceasefire talks if Moscow perceives a real threat to its infrastructure.
Portnikov also analyzes attempts by the US and other Western leaders to find a platform for potential negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. He emphasizes that a direct meeting between Presidents Zelensky and Putin is unlikely—for now, mediators may look for compromise solutions that will not necessarily favor Ukraine. He notes growing pressure for ending the war along current frontlines without resolving the status of Crimea and other occupied territories.
A separate section focuses on the situation concerning Odesa’s mayor, Hennadiy Trukhanov, who has been found to possess Russian passports. Portnikov points out this is not unusual for the politics of post-Soviet countries and is also a tool for consolidating power.
The interview highlights Ukrainian identity during full-scale war, the need to safeguard sovereignty, and internal changes among the population and diaspora. Portnikov stresses that wartime elections are highly unlikely, and if the war ends, the conditions may not be favorable for Ukraine in the near future.
The discussion also covers issues of energy and demographic struggle, strikes on infrastructure, historical parallels, and the role of international mediators in conflict resolution.
