Wicker Rejects Territorial Concessions to End War in Ukraine

US Senator Roger Wicker, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said on Friday, Oct. 9, that he cannot envision an end to the war in Ukraine that involves Kyiv ceding sovereign territory seized by Russia. Speaking at a press conference in Kyiv, the senior Republican lawmaker affirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin will not succeed in defeating the Ukrainian people, even as Moscow seeks to weaponize the upcoming winter to break civilian resilience, Interfax-Ukraine reported.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. “Vladimir Putin will not be able to defeat the Ukrainian people this year or next year. If we allow it, he can make the lives of Ukrainians miserable, and I think that is precisely what he wants,” Wicker told reporters, as reported by Interfax-Ukraine. Wicker noted that Ukraine faces another challenging winter following severe Russian infrastructure bombardments over the past year. He warned that Russian forces are deliberately expanding targeting parameters beyond electricity and district heating networks to include water supply systems. “We do not know how difficult the conditions will be, but the Russian dictator’s goal is to make people’s lives miserable,” Wicker said. “In addition to blackouts and the lack of heating and electricity, we understand that Vladimir Putin also aims to strike the water supply system to further compound people’s suffering.” The senator stressed that while Ukrainians do not seek prolonged hardship, they remain determined to resist Russian aggression. Other Topics of Interest Putin Touts 90% Dollar-Free CIS Trade as Russia Sidesteps Western Sanctions Moscow promotes alternative payment networks to withstand Western sanctions, even as former Soviet republics distance themselves from Russia. “Given the events of recent years and current circumstances, I do not see an end to the war that involves the Ukrainian people giving up their sovereign territory seized as a result of an invasion that violates international law,” Wicker said. Trump diesel pact Wicker’s rejection of territorial concessions coincides with growing scrutiny in Kyiv and European capitals over Washington’s diplomatic posture toward Moscow. On Friday, Oct. 9, US-led peace talks held in Miami – bringing together US, Ukrainian, and European officials alongside representatives of Britain, France, Germany, the European Commission, and NATO – concluded after a single six-hour session without a announced breakthrough. US special envoy Steve Witkoff characterized the discussions as constructive, noting that delegates examined avenues to de-escalate and conclude the conflict ahead of winter. However, the Miami consultations were overshadowed by US President Donald Trump’s announcement of an agreement with Putin to permit Russian diesel shipments to American and global markets. Trump confirmed that Russia would supply over 300,000 metric tons of diesel immediately, followed by another 500,000 tons in November, prompting the US Treasury Department to issue a temporary sanctions waiver. President Volodymyr Zelensky and lawmakers from both parties in Washington criticized the transaction, warning that easing economic restrictions and purchasing Russian petroleum products provides fresh financial revenue for Moscow’s war apparatus while peace delegations were actively negotiating. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 90% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.