White House ‘privately asked Ukraine to show openness to negotiations’ with Kremlin, says US newspaper
White House (Photo:REUTERS / Al Drago)
The Biden administration is privately asking the Ukrainian government to signal an openness to negotiations with the Russian Federation, the Washington Post reported on Nov.5, citing sources familiar with the progress of the discussions.
The request by U.S. officials is not aimed at pushing Ukraine to the negotiating table, according to these sources. 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.”
“The Biden administration is privately encouraging Ukraine’s leaders to signal an openness to negotiate with Russia and drop their public refusal to engage in peace talks unless President Vladimir Putin is removed from power,” the Washington Post reported.
Previously, President Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine will only be able to begin peace talks with Russia if the invading forces retreat from occupied Ukrainian territory and admitted that they had made a "terrible mistake.”
The Ukrainian president on Oct. 4 enacted a decision taken by the National Security and Defense Council to outlaw any negotiations with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.
The President's Office said that Kyiv would be ready for negotiations when the Russian leader changes.
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