"On the front, as Zaluzhnyi wrote back in the fall of last year, trench warfare continues. Both sides have no serious tools to sell the front. We are paying with the lives of our soldiers and have the advantage of their heroism, resilience and the fact that we are on our own soil, as well as Western aid. The Russians have the advantage in their willingness to give their lives for the Tsar, KABs and lots of shells. In this situation it becomes obvious that there is a need to end this form of warfare. Either to find a form of strategic advantage and reclaim their land, or to think how to end this war, gain time and build a stronger Armed Forces", Lutsenko said.

The politician added that Ukraine should strengthen its position ahead of likely negotiations with Russia.

"At this point, both sides act in the same way. In particular, they state their desires. Putin has said he will never agree to less than 4 Ukrainian regions. Zelenskyy at a speech in Paris repeated about the 1991 borders. At some point negotiations with the Russian Federation will begin, because that is what any war ends with. Until then, though, each side is trying to get stronger and Putin is doing a lot in this regard. Ukraine at the same time is putting together a Peace Summit, at which the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukrainian territory was not even mentioned", he added.

• On June 20, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin said that the Russian armed forces were allegedly not going to advance into Kharkiv. However, the AFU's attempts to withdraw the Russians from Kharkiv Region, he said, would "cost Ukraine dearly".