you are pushing back in opposite directions.

nope. it's coherent, you're just not following it properly

ukraine want to get the most concessions/best deal they can from any meeting

if you don't message strongly to your own forces the summit can and will be spun as surrender

ukraines forces believing that could become disheartened/abandon positions/whatever

this would weaken ukraines position in negotiations

this would stop them from getting the most beneficial deal in any negotiation

I'm not going to have a discussion about fucking tone policing with you mate, deal with it