The encouragement is not intended to push Ukraine to the negotiating table, but to ensure it maintains a high morale in the eyes of its international backers, the Washington Post reported on Saturday.
The paper quoted unnamed people familiar with the discussions as saying that US officials’ request was not intended to push Ukraine to the negotiating table, but a calculated effort to ensure Kiev retains support from other nations that have to do with constituencies wary of fomenting a war for many in years to come.
It said the discussions illustrated the complexity of the Biden administration’s stance on Ukraine, as US officials publicly pledge to support Kiev with massive amounts of aid “for as long as it takes” while hoping for an eight-month solution. long conflict that lasted. a great toll on the world economy and caused the fear of nuclear war.
The paper said US officials shared their Ukrainian counterparts’ assessment that Putin is not taking the negotiations seriously for the time being, but acknowledged that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s ban on talking to him had raised concerns in parts of Europe, Africa and Latin. America, where the war’s effects on the cost of food and fuel are felt most strongly.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin
“Ukraine fatigue is a real thing for some of our partners,” the Post quoted an unnamed US official as saying.
The White House National Security Council had no immediate comment when asked if the report was accurate, while a State Department spokesman replied by saying:
“We’ve said it before and will say it again: actions speak louder than words. If Russia is ready for negotiations, it must stop its bombs and missiles and withdraw its troops from Ukraine.
“The Kremlin continues to escalate this war. The Kremlin has shown its reluctance to seriously engage in negotiations since it launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.”
The spokesman also noted comments made by Zelenskiy on Friday, in which he said: “We are ready for peace, for a fair and just peace, the formula of which we have spoken many times.”
In his late-night address to the Ukrainian people on Friday, Zelenskiy added: “The world knows our position. This is respect for the UN Charter, respect for our territorial integrity, respect for our people.”
US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said during a visit to Kiev on Friday that Washington’s support for Ukraine would remain “steadfast and unwavering” after next Tuesday’s congressional midterm elections.
Source: Washington Post/ Reuters
