Ukraine’s government buildings sit in an area of Kyiv that is in complete lockdown.

As we pass through tightly controlled checkpoints and empty streets, we reach the president’s office.

For security reasons, the area and its heavy fortifications cannot be photographed or filmed. We’re here for a rare meeting with one of president Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s closest advisers.

Mykhailo Podolyak greets me with a firm handshake, dressed in a similar trademark military attire to his commander-in-chief.

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“Politicians are too worried about how Russia will respond if they lose this war,” Mykhailo Podolyak tells me.

If the UK, the US and the EU can find an answer to that, he says they could end this war “in months at most. It’s not a matter of years at all as everyone says. It’s a question of three, five, months… The speed of liberation in Kharkiv was more than 8.5 thousand square kilometres in just four to five days. That is an example of how it could happen.”

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Ukrainian forces have made stunning gains on the battlefield in recent weeks in the northeast of the country.

In Kyiv, the next steps of the counter-offensive are a closely guarded secret, but Mr Podolyak tells me “it’s a mistake” to think the war will stop this winter.

“It will continue at the same intensity,” he adds.

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As the UN General Assembly meets in New York, Ukraine’s frustration that Russia still has a seat at the top table is clear.

“We would like to see a greater influence from the General Assembly on Russia’s behaviour. Specifically, their exclusion from the UN Security Council so more effective decisions can be made,” says Mr Podolyak.

Peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv have ground to a halt.

I’m told Ukraine will no longer hold any negotiations with Russia regarding the end of the war until all Russian troops are out of Ukraine – including from Crimea and the eastern Donbas. The only talks that are taking place between the two countries at an official level are those regarding prisoner exchanges.

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It’s unrealistic to expect Vladimir Putin to withdraw his troops from Ukraine.

After all, Russia still occupies around a fifth of the country and this war is far from a done deal. This leaves the only option open to Ukraine, to drive them from the country by winning this war.

Mr Podolyak says the biggest obstacle to ending the war, is the international community’s fear of how Russia will react.

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“Partner countries have no understanding of what would happen next. Everyone is used to the fact that the Russian Federation is a monster in the way it behaves. That Russia should be feared… This is what is holding the world back from helping us more intensively and helping Ukraine bring an end to this war.”

President Zelenskyy’s adviser says international allies can’t allow themselves to be blackmailed by the fear of nuclear weapons.

“If Russia takes part of Ukraine’s territory, it will show other countries, for example, Iran, #Get nuclear weapons and you can take someone else’s land’.”

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