Putin not ready to find diplomatic off-ramp to end war in Ukraine, says U.S. official
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin's actions to date have not suggested the Russian leader is ready to find a diplomatic off-ramp to end the war in Ukraine, the U.S.-based CNN television news channel quoted U.S. State Department Spokesperson Ned Price as saying on March 10.
"Our position is that we will support a negotiated resolution that respects Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders," he said.
"We're applying this pressure in the hopes that eventually there will be a negotiated resolution, but it does not appear that Putin wants one right now," Price added.
The State Department official also stressed that the United States would support a conversation between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Putin, but remains skeptical that it would result in progress on a diplomatic solution right now, officials said.
"We would support our Ukrainian partners in the diplomatic overtures, the diplomatic initiatives that they wish to take part in,” the State Department spokesperson commented.
“That does not mean that we would have necessarily high hopes (for a meeting) at the moment.”
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