The Washington Post reported on Saturday that the US is privately encouraging Ukraine to signal an openness to negotiations with Russia but for public relations purposes, not to actually pursue diplomacy.
Sources told the Post that the US wants Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to drop his official position of ruling out talks with Russia as long as Vladimir Putin is president, which is essentially a call for regime change in Moscow. The idea is to maintain support for Ukraine from nations uneasy about Zelensky’s stance on negotiations.
The report reads: “The request by American officials is not aimed at pushing Ukraine to the negotiating table, these people said. Rather, they called it a calculated attempt to ensure the government in Kyiv maintains the support of other nations facing constituencies wary of fueling a war for many years to come.”
Zelensky signed a decree ruling out talks with Putin’s government after Russia annexed the territory it controls in Ukraine. US officials told the Post that Zelensky’s decree raised concerns in Europe, Africa, and Latin America, all areas feeling the economic impact of the war and Western sanctions on Russia.
Ukraine’s stance on peace talks and maximalist war goals, which include expelling Russia from Crimea, show that they expect the war to last for years to come.
The Post had previously reported that US officials have ruled out the idea of nudging Ukraine to the negotiating table even though they don’t think Kyiv can win the war “outright.” The Biden administration has shown very little interest in diplomacy throughout the war, although The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday that National Security Jake Sullivan has engaged in secret talks with top Putin aides.
The shame of this position is inexpressible. Old as humans have been fighting, but now, so very, very deadly — for the planet at this very interconnected juncture.
As Ukraine citizens and soldiers die. Pretty sick.
I’m not buying this news. It’s bad for business.
This is actually a good thing. People can read, including those “constituencies wary of fueling a war for many years to come”. WAPO let the cat out of the bag. No more tips from an unnamed officials for them.
When do we start calling it US disinformation? How about US LIES?
Best time for Putin to come to the negotiation table with realistic/acceptable demands for Ukraine. His army of conscripts is revolting everywhere.
https://youtu.be/ngeKc3HS1N4
The Sun lol
The United States government has shaken off the last vestiges of moral legitimacy. We’re become a plague of lying bent on infecting the world with hatred for any who refuse to bend to our will.
Biden/Blinken probably thought that the commoners of Europe would accept the energy shortages and the destruction of their manufacturing base with a stiff upper lip. That isn’t going to happen. I think they understand that there will either be compromise or there will be regime change at the ballot boxes of Europe.