Despite positive comments from both Ukrainian and Russian officials after peace talks in Istanbul, Secretary of State Antony Blinken cast doubt on the negotiations and said there are still no signs Russia is taking them seriously.
Blinken said that the US would leave it up to Ukraine to say if progress was made during the talks. “I have not seen anything that suggests that this is moving forward in an effective way, because Russia — at least we have not seen signs of real seriousness,” Blinken said Tuesday in Morrocco.
During Tuesday’s talks, Ukraine put forward a potential peace deal that includes a vow to drop its bid to join NATO in exchange for other security guarantees, which will now be considered by the Russian side. After the negotiations, Russia’s military announced that it would “drastically” reduce military operations near Kyiv and the northern city of Chernihiv.
“There is what Russia says and there is what Russia does. We’re focused on the latter,” Blinken said. He claimed the Russian announcement of a withdrawal near Kyiv and Chernihiv could be an attempt to “deceive people and deflect attention.” But US officials told CNN that Russia has begun withdrawing troops from the areas, in what they called a “major” strategy shift by Moscow.
Vladimir Medinsky, the head of Russia’s negotiating team, said the move to pull troops away from the cities did not mean there was a ceasefire and cautioned that the negotiations have a long way to go. “This is not a ceasefire but this is our aspiration, gradually to reach a de-escalation of the conflict at least on these fronts,” he said. “However, to prepare such an agreement on a mutually acceptable basis, we still have a long way to go.”
At this point, the Biden administration hasn’t shown much interest in engaging in diplomacy with Moscow. Last week, the State Department said Blinken hasn’t spoken with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov since February 15, over a week before Russia invaded.
Technically, Blinken is right. Russia knows they are “negotiating” with the US, not Ukraine, and Russia knows both are not “agreement-capable.” Therefore Russia is just engaging in these talks because 1) as Martyanov says, quoting “Dune”, “The Forms Must be Obeyed”, and 2) meanwhile Russia can create the conditions it wants on the ground the longer the talks drag out.
For someone who says he would leave it up to Ukraine to say if progress was being made, Blinken doesn’t seem to have any qualms about throwing a wrench into the gears.
I think I’ll start calling him Wink’n Blinkin.
I like “Stinkin’ Blinkin” better.
.
Blinkin’ idiot
“Blinken said that the US would leave it up to Ukraine to say if progress was made during the talks” Just as every word and picture from the operation in Ukraine so far has been from the POV of Ukraine and its puppet President Ze.
At least we have a comment from the USA’s top diplomat and neocon ruler of POTUS Biden.
It is clear to all that the last thing US want is to end this conflict which is such a bonanza for the “donor class”. The American idea of “modern” war is what was done in Yugoslavia: destruction without any “boots on the ground”. Yugoslavia caved; but did they forget? Did Viet Nam, Afghanistan, Libya, Syria etc etc. ?
“Blinken said that the US would leave it up to Ukraine to say if progress was made during the talks.”
I wonder if his nose grew.
If Blinken’s nose grew any longer he would tip over.
LOL!
The guy who hasn’t been actively involved in 7 weeks gives his assessment of the situation…okay
None of these talks are going to get results until US is involved…. By not participating US intention is to drag this conflict as long as possible using Ukraine as bait in order to presumably weaken Russia… But, as usual it will fail and Ukrainian people will suffer…!
These Americans do not want the war to stop in Ukraine
Not more or less serious than US. Ukraine trully does not exist. It is worse than being forced to folliw US line in everything. It is the very composition of the Ukrainian government that does not represents 75% of its population.
Tony has not not seen anything that suggests that this is moving forward in an effective way because he doesn’t know what diplomacy consists of. He’s cut in the Hillary mode for SecState — criticize everything, don’t negotiate anything, and activate some sanctions while you’re after some country that doesn’t toe the line of the rules-based international order™.
And it’s important to keep in mind that Putin’s crazy behaviour seems to be caused by his steroid treatments and other drugs.
Dealing with lunatic high on drugs is never easy, so good luck to Tony.
The US flunkies always sing the same song: it’s the “other” guy who’s holding up the peace talks. We saw it with Iran, the Palestinians, and now the Russians. It’s never the US or its client states who are obstructing peace; always the other guy.
What Blinky is saying is that his handlers want the situation in Ukraine to go on for years.
Blinkin is enabling further conflict if he is not seeking peace and this War over there has the greater poktential to escalate which would spill over into NATO nations whom we represent by proposing that we will hit back harder should one inch be bombed.
fact is, is that our modern war accoutrements and weaponry is in the hands of unregulated NGO Ukranian Militias who are willing to use them unregulated.
As before these loose cannons will break white flag treaties to escalate because for many, continual war is their only freedom. Why? Because Zelenski armed the inmates imprisoned in Ukraine and they like the current terms and weaponry.
Blinkin has armed criminals effectively through US state craft and policy to “defend our freedoms over there.” Our armed and enabled Mercenaries over there are murderers, rapists and criminals of every kind. Who regulates their behavior to prevent War Crimes?