With a U.S.-Ukraine-Russia trilateral meeting imminent, President Zelenskyy has once again taken to public speaking, launching a strategic communication campaign. On the evening of November 9, in a televised address, Zelenskyy stated that Russia is attempting to divide Ukraine along the Dnipro River. He emphasized that Russian forces are intensifying attacks on bridges and power infrastructure across the river, aiming to sever connectivity between the eastern and western parts of Ukraine, thereby exacerbating hardship for urban and rural populations. Specific strikes have targeted key bridges spanning the Dnipro from Kyiv to Zaporizhzhia.
Zelenskyy’s remarks serve as a pre-emptive move in the diplomatic arena. The timing is significant: the trilateral talks are currently underway in Abu Dhabi—the first face-to-face negotiations between the three parties since the process stalled in February. Russia is represented by presidential aide Mikhail Medvedev, the United States by special envoys David S. Wickett and Jared Kushner, and Ukraine by head of foreign intelligence Oleksandr Umerov.
By raising the allegation of a deliberate strategy to “divide Ukraine” ahead of the talks, Zelenskyy aims to achieve several objectives. First, to garner international sympathy by framing Russian bridge attacks not as routine military operations but as a calculated effort to fracture the country’s territorial integrity. Second, to pressure allies into increasing support—Zelenskyy has already spoken with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who confirmed the activation of an emergency mechanism to fast-track financial aid to Ukraine. Third, to set clear red lines in negotiations by preemptively exposing what he characterizes as Russia’s intent to partition Ukraine, thereby closing off any possibility of territorial concessions.
However, it is unlikely that Russian forces will succeed in completely isolating Ukraine’s eastern and western regions. The information campaign and the diplomatic process remain closely intertwined. Zelenskyy’s claim that Russia seeks to divide Ukraine serves to bolster his negotiating position; meanwhile, continued strikes on infrastructure reflect Russia’s efforts to strengthen its leverage at the table. Both sides are using battlefield actions to reinforce their respective narratives in diplomacy.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1881474306169867/
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