Prior to invading Ukraine, Moscow offered the West a series of security proposals to avert conflict in Europe. A senior Russian diplomat says that the offer is now invalid, but that the Kremlin is still open to arms control talks with Washington.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov announced the policy shift on Saturday, saying that any new arms control talks will come under new terms. The senior official added that Russia and the US remain in constant contact. The following day, Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman said that Russia has shown a "willingness to have real, serious negotiations."
While this is the first encouraging sign for bilateral diplomacy since Russia began its offensive on Ukraine in late February, both sides expressed pessimism. Sherman said that Washington believes that "Vladimir Putin is intent on destroying Ukraine." Likewise, Ryabkov said the Kremlin assessed the US still wasn’t serious about negotiations.
Russia offered the security proposal to Western powers in mid-December and demanded a written response. The US and NATO delivered them to Russia over a month later, though Moscow was unhappy with the answer it got. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the bloc showed only a willingness to negotiate on secondary issues.
Among Russia’s primary concerns include NATO membership for Ukraine and Georgia, while it also sought to have the US remove its strategic missile launchers from Eastern Europe.
Kyle Anzalone is the opinion editor of Antiwar.com, news editor of the Libertarian Institute, and co-host of Conflicts of Interest.
From now on, it’s going to be like the “negotiations” between Ukraine and Russia: “We tell you what we’ll accept, you get to agree.” This is how the US always did it – now they get to see how it feels.
Yes, but unfortunately U.S. still thinks they can continue with that type of negotiations. What’s the point of calling yourself the Russian Federation, if you have to pay tribute to the west powers like a slave.
Let me us the paraphrase cookie gal’s words f the us. China needs to send Wang yi to Moscow asap and arrange a meet between putin and zelansky in Beijing.
Which ain’t gonna happen any more than a meeting between Zelensky and Putin in Israel under Bennett’s purview. Putin wants Zelensky gone – quietly if possible, but gone under any circumstances.
Now Russia wants to talk, after getting schooled and embarrassed by the poorer smaller Ukrainian army. Screw that, no talks, continue taking this inept army apart until Russian agrees to pull out. No mercy. Viva Ukraine.
Russians are running up and down the country side. Ukraine is losing badly.
Yes, Russians are running up and down the country side.
No, that doesn’t mean Ukraine is losing badly.
It all really comes back to what Putin’s objectives are.
I still think it may be that his objectives are to secure a new border incorporating LPR, DPR, and a land corridor to Crimea. If so, then the Russian operations west o that area are tactical feints, not meant to succeed, probably making use of the least competent troops and most obsolete/worn out equipment.
If it’s anything but that, then Patrick Cockburn sums it up pretty well:
“The extent of the Russian failure in Ukraine since 24 February cannot be overstated. Putin has presided so far over one of the great fiascos in military history, and it is getting late in the day for him and his generals to reverse this. They have not defeated the Ukrainian army, surrounded and captured the bigger cities of Ukraine, decapitated its government or found any local allies willing to work with the occupiers. A show of Russian strength has become a humiliating demonstration of weakness.”
Well at least Cockburn has some sense
What you actually think is irrelevant because the scale of defeat means Putin will go sooner or later
Therefore any new ‘ border’ would also go
Yes, Putin will go sooner or later.
That doesn’t mean any new “border” will go with him.
When Putin does go, it’s far from a given that he’ll be replaced by someone who’s any friendlier to Ukraine, to the US, or to NATO. Or who’s willing to give up any previously acquired territory.
Well in that case he also won’t last very long
This isn’t the Soviet union
If whoever follows Putin wants a perpetual war with the west then so be it,it didn’t work out well for the Soviet and they had more resources,plus the borders of sovereign countries were re- established once it collapsed
Any carve up of the Ukrainian border won’t be permanent any more than it was for east and west Germany
Unification will occur its not if but only when
Or do you actually prefer the world is partitioned by people like Putin?
Yugoslavia might have preferred Putin as the partitioner.
Wow!
And what happens if former Yugoslavia didn’t care for Putin the ” partitioner”
Well we know,they’d get the same treatment as Ukrainians
They didn’t care for Clinton the partitioner at all. But we’re the “special” partitioner.
Whatever
Now THERE’S a definitive response, Bob!
What else,if dealing with idiots who’ve munched on to much kremlin propaganda
Its like the geo political equivalent of the flat earth society
Dumb just doesn’t do justice for the sort of stupid stuff here,so ” whatever ” is really like go and #### yourself
Well, it’s hard not to acknowledge your obvious expertise in the fields of idiocy, stupid stuff, etc.
And “everyone who disagrees with my unthought-out and poorly explained ideas is pro-Putin” certainly qualifies.
I think Bob is pro-Volodymyr and the neo-nazis who he is sympathetic to. The same Volodymyr who killed innocent civilians in the Donbas. Milosevic got tried as a war criminal for allegedly doing that in Yugoslavia.
They DID get the same treatment as Ukrainians.
And they got that treatment from NATO.
Perhaps Zelly and his Nazi minions should have been more respectful of the rights of Russian ethnics in the Donbas region.
In fact it rather reminds me of how the Israelis “deal” with the Palestinians.
Putin is 69 years old. Sooner or later, he’ll go.
A careful look at his loudest opponents is not heartening. They oppose him. From the right, nationalistic, worse than he is from our point of view.
What about Biden when you look at opponents here who oppose him? And he’s older. American Presidents are just figureheads though, like Biden.
You have to understand one thing. Russia is not fighting just Ukraine. Russia is fighting NATO and the U.S. We were and we still are shoving weapons into Ukraine, encouraging mercenaries to enter the fray, at their own risk. Russia realizes that Ukraine is the last piece of the game of Risk that we have been playing since we agreed that NATO (we) would not move “one inch East”. For 30 years we have been humiliating Russia, bringing in new members to NATO, arming them with missiles, yet accepting their oil (20,000,000 barrels per year) their wheat, their potash and ammonia for fertilizer. It is all another proxy war we are feeding.
And this is why Putin is leveling cities in Ukraine. That’s right. Keep telling that story, you Troll.
No – that’s why we were leveling cities in Iraq.
Our intentions were different from Putin’s.
We were getting rid of WMDs or bringing democracy, I forgot which. We left Iraq a far better place, a democractic nation with law and order.
That’s strange because two years ago, when I discussed the Iraqi invasions and occupation with an Iraqi woman, she said, “You destroyed my country.”
There were no WMD in Iraq, we didn’t bring “democracy” and we left far worse off than it was before we blew the country up.
Same goes for Libya and Syria.
You did not pick up on my intent.
Can’t we just restore the last legal, democratically elected government of Ukraine, elected by all of the people of the former Ukraine?
Thomas, you are wasting your time. Most folks here are Russian trolls who forgot this is antiwar.com. They are here justifying Putin’s war.
If we only practiced what we preach!!
“No mercy. Viva Ukraine.”
As compared to Ukrainian trolls who forgot this is antiwar.com?
Most folks here have been here since long before the war in Ukraine, and often have worthwhile opinions to share. A few of them, however, do conflate being antiwar with spraining their ankles jumping up and down and cheering whatever regime happens to be at odds with the US regime at any given moment.
Generally the trolls only pop up when their pet issue comes along, and disappear when it fades.
As an example of that Thomas, you have Exhibit A in Don Julio.
Fortunately, my job as moderator doesn’t entail “troll patrol.”
The last paragraph has no base in reality whatsoever if one takes into account Russia’s aims which Putin stated very clearly a few days ago.
Actually, Cockburn sounds a lot like our MSM. Saying: “Russian grievances against Ukraine pre-war were real enough, but they were scarcely existential.” “Scarcely”. Seriously?
In your dreams, you troll.
Russians are getting destroyed up and down.
Oh you hideous Ogre. I just raised you an ogre and that’s higher than your troll.
😂
The Banderite army is a multiple larger than the Russian force they are facing.
Yeah, right. And that’s why your Emperor Putin invaded. Tell that to yourself, you troll.
Putin’s government isn’t the one with military bases all over the world.
I can see where your news source comes from. The same one saying Russia is on the verge of surrendering and Putin will be done.
Putin will be done don’t be under any illusions about that
His economy and country are going south in a very big way,its just you folks can’t see it
I don’t think you’re old enough to remember what happened to the Soviets,but its almost inevitable that the same will now happen to Russia
You don’t think I’m old enough? And you deduced that because I didn’t agree with the troll’s sources? Those same news sources just said there is a dire humanitarian situation because of the people surrounded by Russian forces with no escape? One minute Russia is on the verge of defeat and the next they have cities surrounded. And I’m 67 so I might have been around to remember what happened to the Soviets which has no relevance to today. But I guess it’s “almost” inevitable. Is that like kind of inevitable?
You might be old enough but you certainly haven’t learnt much thats a fact
Point out what I said that wasn’t factual.
To Bob:
Any projections are conjecture, therefore start with facts, not projections, before challenging someone to point out anything in your post, start with facts, not projections/conjecture.
Heh Wars… “kind of inevitable” is like being “kind of pregnant”.
Since you really can’t trust any of today’s news sources, who knows what the truth is? However, like in the U.S. where the mainstream media all parrot the same lines, I wouldn’t put much faith in the worldstream media that seems to put out the same stories in conjunction with the U.S. press.
“Hope springs eternal.” Especially for those who gaze upon colonic vistas.
Putin troll.
No, just pointing out where you get your news from. I have yet to praise Putin. In fact, I’ve called him a thug. Doesn’t mean his security claims aren’t legitimate. But I’m sure you know that but you just like being the contrarian troll.
I have not seen nor heard one single news outlet claiming rusia is on the verge of surrendering though I have seen what Russia, Belarus, and China news are showing. So definitely not from there I’m getting my news. I was just recently in Odessa pulling my daughter and mother out. I think I have seen the shit up close.
Didn’t mean it literally. But if I relied on the MSM, I would assume that would be about to happen.
Don, I think we can all agree that ALL war is horrible. The saddest thing is that this one could have been avoided but for the intransigence of the Amerikkkan government.
Putin’s requests were not unreasonable.
Don, I think we can all agree that ALL war is horrible. The saddest thing is that this one could have been avoided but for the intransigence of the Amerikkkan government.
Putin’s requests were not unreasonable.
And no one here is defending the invasion, but as I have said before: we poked the Bear and he bit.
And please remember that Ukraine is not innocent, either.
No wonder why you’re biased.
He doesn’t have any security claims
You obviously weren’t paying attention when Putin gave his speech back in 2018
The one when he presented to the world all his super weapons that could destroy anything,remember!!!!
All Putin blather about NATO was in itself a propaganda special op,nothing more
What Putin fears is legitimate and open democratic competition
That’s what keeps him awake at night,because that’s what brings him down probably including prison along with his criminal buddies
Right. And the US would have been fine with Russia being on our borders with missiles deployed that could hit Washington in “7 minutes”. Putin’s speech didn’t change Russia’s security concerns. MAD has been around for decades.
Did you watch the speech?
Why would that matter? Do his words from 2018 mean his words of 2021/2022 should be ignored? I have heard and read Russia’s security concerns right here on many occasions. They haven’t changed since the invasion. And they are legitimate. I was against the invasion. I’m against any invasion. Giving an opinion on why Russia did it isn’t condoning them doing it. Putin is no more of a monster than any of our presidents in my lifetime.
So you didn’t watch his speech?
No. Now quote me where he said that his hypersonic weaponry meant that he’d have no problem with Ukraine being part of NATO and missiles being deployed near his borders that could hit Moscow in 7 minutes. It must be in there since you seem to think it makes his security concerns just a ruse.
So you have no idea what he said
NATO was never the problem for Putin,but democracy was,everything else that comes out of his fat rubbery face is BS propaganda
Democracy and freedom are the dagger pointed at his heart and the thing he fears most
I’ll leave you to marinate in your pro kremlin,anti American kool aid
I said it didn’t matter and it seems it didn’t. Any quote from that Putin speech saying Ukraine becoming a NATO state and missiles being perched on his borders with a delivery time of 7 minutes wasn’t a problem? How many war games happened on his border regions since that 2018 speech? His security issues are obvious.
Yes, somehow all of that makes me pro Kremlin. Like being pro Assad if I bitch about sanctions that could kill 13 million. I’d really love for me to be able to blame it on kool aid but my government just never stops killing people.
Regarding news sources that may offer some degree of credibility, check out Republic World, coming out of India:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwqusr8YDwM-3mEYTDeJHzw
NATO has to fall back to western Europe.
The following day, Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman said that Russia has shown a “willingness to have real, serious negotiations.”
Yes. If only they could find someone to have them with.
Thanks for the chuckle…
Amazing. Sullivan is on his way to Rome to meet the head of Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. With the goal of asking China to intercede, to mediate brtween Russia and Ukraine,
Ms Sherman is making it sound as if it is Russia that became more open to negotiations, while it is her being forced to rethink, Negotiations with whom? With US/NATO on security in Europe or over Ukraine? Is US and the collective West a combatant in the conflict? By bringing in arms snd soliciting volunteers — it is edging there.
The sudden need to get China’s help stems from the predawn missile attach on Ukranian airbase near Polish border where the volunteers and the weapons are being. collected, Russia warned that those are legitimate targets. In the raid, military airfields, weapons storage were destroyed and it appears nearly two hundred volunteers died,
And with the relatiinship with China at an absolute nadir, it will be an interestiing conversation.
It may be just dawning on the arrogant creatures of the swamp that Russia did not commence its assertivess over security concerns in Europe without cosulting
with China. More likely also with other SCO members to be impacted by the crisis.
And there is no way Russia was going into conflict without backing. This is no more the world of individual
actors,
Russia is in no hurry. No need to storm cities, working with OSCE on humanitarian corridors while controlling the key land transit routes, breaking up and paralising Ukrainian military in various pockets.
All good sources of information believe that China may accept “facilitaring” not mediating. But it depends in the manner and tone Sullivan brings to Rome // China will not be talked down to. Worse yet, if Sullivan and DC crowd assume they can buy off China with some beads and mirrors or assuming that China would be impressed with the munificent condensation — they may be in for a shock. China backed Russia up to the hilt, and will only harden its response. Diplomatic words notwithstanding.
Nothing but fear, can bring swamp creatures out to observe real world from the cimforts of their self-defined world.
There may be some military cooler heads left in Washingtom to bring about some reality, as the likes of Sherman are incapable of it.
What, her highness Sherman actually condescended to talk to Russia? To whom? Lavrov? A global
diplomat respected around the globe, while US sanctioned him as a common criminal, including his dogs and cats?
I do not think Sherman is there, It may take the meeting in Rome to clear things up a little.
Afghanistan’s Karzai commented recently on Ukraine. And was marveling over Ukrainian willinness to become a proxy in the conflict between two nuclear powers. And the message to others. This explains Turkeys steadfast position to not follow US and NATO in imposing sanctions.
Putin and Biden have made Ukraine the ward of NATO. That is likely to be costly for Putin, Biden, NATO and the ward.
This is antiwar.com and many trolls here are supporting Putin. Check your website names before you start trolling.
You Ogre, you only support NATO wars. Why is that and why is Ukraine a national security interest to you? How did we ever ever ever survive when the last legally elected government was still in power before it got overthrown with the funding and help of the Obama regime?
Recognizing that Putin had serious and legitimate concerns before the war commenced is not “trolling”.
Names that I don’t recognize here are the ones cheerleading for NATO.
For news with some possible credibility re the Russia/Ukraine/NATO war, check out Republic World out of India at
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwqusr8YDwM-3mEYTDeJHzw
No matter the platform, it’s hard to find non-propaganda sources, especially on YouTube.
But check out Republic World (still on YouTube!!)
Well, it seems I spoke too soon. The link below has indeed been shut down by YouTube (at least here in Mexico.) (Try this one instead as a starting point:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNBAYvXwaS4)
***Broken***link***https://www.youtube.com/cha…