Ukraine must focus on exhausting Russia to avoid capitulation – journalist Portnykov

Journalist Vitaliy Portnykov shared his opinions with Espreso TV.

"It will become clear that this war is unbearable for Russia. We need intensive strikes on its economy and the destruction of its oil and gas infrastructure. Cutting off Russian oil transit is crucial. The TurkStream is already under threat, and there are issues with shipping oil and gas by tankers. Even if it means economic hardship for Europe and energy-dependent countries, we have to stop Russia from selling oil and gas. That’s the key. As long as Russia earns income from oil, the war will continue," he explained.

Portnykov added that if, by 2025, Russia cannot fill its budget using reserves and must rely solely on current revenues, then by 2026–2027, the war will be funded only by what Russia earns in real time.

"Russia’s reserves are shrinking fast. By the end of this year, they say the Russian National Wealth Fund, Russia’s last financial cushion, will be gone. This is a huge risk for the Kremlin. Oil prices are fluctuating, sanctions are working, and the hole in the Russian budget is growing. Without reserves and fresh income, they won’t be able to plug it. This could lead to a pause in hostilities on the Russian-Ukrainian front in the near future," he said.

According to Portnykov, if Ukraine wants to avoid surrendering to Russia, it must focus on wearing Russia down.

"Ukraine could capitulate to Russia at any time, agreeing to disappear from the world map. But if we want to keep our state and remain on our land, we have to exhaust Russia’s resources. Ukrainians don’t have, haven’t had, and won’t have any other path. Russians need to understand that they’ll have a strong, democratic, economically advanced Ukraine as their neighbor, a country that wants nothing to do with Russia. We must close our airspace to Russian planes, seal our borders to Russian citizens, and ensure that Ukraine never becomes a Russian political or economic puppet. Russia will keep trying to undermine our statehood and spend money doing so, but we must be ready for this battle," he concluded.

• Meanwhile, Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Main Intelligence Directorate, believes Russia is still capable of continuing the war at its current intensity.