Russia can only exist in a state of war, a top aide to Volodymyr Zelensky has warned as negotiations continue over bringing an end to the invasion of Ukraine.

Mykhaylo Podolyak, a senior adviser to the Ukrainian president and main negotiator during the initial 2022 peace talks, said that Vladimir Putin stood to benefit from dragging out his war, which he said was reflected in the Russian leader’s negotiating tactics with the US.

In an interview with The Telegraph on Wednesday afternoon, shortly after Mr Zelensky spoke with Donald Trump, Mr Podolyak urged the White House to take more decisive action on the war. He also called on the European Union to accelerate its own plans to support Kyiv and implement further sanctions on Moscow.

Ukraine has so far agreed to a US-brokered ceasefire to halt attacks on energy infrastructure. Strikes have continued, however, and neither Kyiv nor Mr Zelensky’s office believe a lasting truce with the Kremlin is within reach.

While world leaders, including Sir Keir Starmer, have accused Putin of “dragging his feet” over the ceasefire deal, Mr Podolyak said a clearer understanding was needed in Europe and America that “time is playing in Russia’s favour”.

“There is one rule for negotiating with Russia: if you agree to something today, the price tomorrow will be higher,” he said. “Russia can only exist in a state of war.”

Sowing chaos in “global relations is a priority for Russia. It is important for them that the concept of violence dominates. We just need to discuss all these mutual misunderstandings at the negotiating table, with both the EU and US, because our interests are synchronised”, Mr Podolyak said.

By the end of this week, American and Ukrainian delegations will meet again in Saudi Arabia, according to Steve Witkoff, the US special envoy. This round of talks come at a moment when recent actions by the Trump administration cast doubt on the amicable rhetoric coming from Kyiv.