An advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reaffirmed on Monday Ukraine’s position that it wouldn’t negotiate with Russia as long as Vladimir Putin is president.
Mykhailo Podolyak wrote on Twitter that Ukraine has never “refused to negotiate” and that its terms for negotiations were a full Russian withdrawal. “Is Putin ready? Obviously not. Therefore, we are constructive in our assessment: we will talk with the next leader,” he said.
Podolyak’s comments came after The Washington Post reported that the US was privately encouraging Ukraine to soften its public stance on negotiations. The report said the idea wasn’t for Ukraine to actually pursue diplomacy with Russia but to ease the concerns of some of Kyiv’s Western backers, who are worried about the war dragging on for years.
At the beginning of October, Zelensky signed a decree formalizing his government’s position against negotiations with Putin after Russia annexed territory it controls in Ukraine. CNN reported on Monday that National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan discussed the issue directly with Zelensky during a visit to Kyiv last week.
While Ukraine has hardened its stance on negotiations, Putin and other Russian officials in recent weeks have stressed that they’re open to talks with both Ukraine and the West. The US is reportedly concerned that it looks bad for Ukraine not to be open to negotiations while Russia is.
But Podolyak’s comments suggest that Ukraine doesn’t plan on changing its position on talks. Zelensky and other Ukrainian officials have repeatedly said that their goal is to drive Russia out of all the territory it controls in Ukraine as well as Crimea.
It will when the US leans on it to do so and when the US stops paying for and equipping this proxy war. It will have no choice but to do so.
If the US turns off the weapons tap, do you suppose at that point Putin will want to negotiate? So long as both sides suppose they can “win” the war will go on. Only when the hope of victory is gone on both sides is there a chance of negotiation.
Yes, Putin would. And if not, ask him and his friends why not.
Putin has no need for more territory than the current “status quo”. What he doesn’t have is guarantees he has been seeking since before 2010 re NATO and security for Russia. Without such guarantees (I’m talking about actual guarantees, not whispers), all this BS about territory means and will mean, nothing.
Fascinating that the puppet is so full of itself, having raked in billions of dollars, that it now believes it is calling the shots. Well — maybe it is. Oh, heavens, our beloved democratic government couldn’t actually be being — what? triple duped?
The puppet masters are also running his mouth. Ventriloquists, I should say, with a plastic dummy.
What is the point of negotiating if you don’t believe the other side will stick to their bargain.
You mean Minsk I and II? Gas purchasing contracts? The peace deal that was almost finalized months ago? You’re right, Russia has no reason to trust anything the Ukrainians have to say, but they should still meet and see if they can work anything out without further killing.
Yes, the Russians certainly have plenty of experience with that one (cf, past 30+ years).
Today’s elections cannot fail to have an impact on that issue. As long as Zelinskyy et al have our full support they do not have to talk to any Russian.
This is the dilemma of voting: no good choice, or any choice at ll.
++++
Ukraine is willing to talk with Russia:
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/11/8/ukraine-says-talks-with-russia-hinge-on-territorial-integrity
“according to a high-ranking security official.”Ha ha… ha. (from the parking garage, perhaps?)
Not surprisingly you are just dead wrong:
https://news.antiwar.com/2022/11/08/zelensky-says-open-to-talks-with-putin-but-maintains-maximalist-demands/
“Ukraine Reaffirms It Won’t Talk With Russia While Putin Is President Jake Sullivan reportedly asked Ukraine to drop this stance during a visit to Kyiv last week”
Zelensky is a disgusting criminal with no reason to exist on the world stage other than to beg for money and weapons he can sell to fatten his bank account.
Over 100,000 dead and twice that number wounded all to pander to America and the EU for cash and weapons.
You’ve gotta do something with all that spare time….
Well Donna, he could dance in high heels and leave his piano keys sticky in the meantime 😉
ZelBoy’s going to be waiting to “talk to” anyone for a very long time.
Thus Biden’s little war is guaranteed longevity. Maybe even long enough to declare martial law if we get out of hand in opposing his coronation.