Biden offered Zelensky not to ask Russia to return Crimea, – Washington Post

US President Joe Biden’s National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan has suggested Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky be open to talks with the Kremlin to end all-out war and reconsider military goals, including the return of occupied Crimea by the Russians. Speaking of which in shape edition of the Washington Post, citing a number of sources, including European diplomats.

According to reporters, Sullivan on November 4 conveyed to Zelensky a call to “appear at least open” to resolving the conflict through negotiations, noting that Kiev would then receive further influence.

“Two European diplomats briefed on the discussions said Sullivan encouraged Zelenskiy’s team to start thinking about their realistic demands and priorities for the negotiations, including a review of Ukraine’s stated goal of handing back Crimeathe post says.

The publication noted that calls to Kiev to think about peace negotiations if winter slows down the advance of the Armed Forces of Ukraine after the liberation of Kherson are heard against the background of the risk of rising inflation, rising energy prices and foodstuffs, multibillion-dollar expenses for the supply of weapons to Ukraine and “tens of thousands of victims on both sides”.

The media cited a statement by US Army General, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley, in which he said that Kiev should recognize the impossibility of winning the war without the use of diplomacy.

“There must be a mutual recognition that a military victory in the truest sense may not be attainable by military means, so other means must be employed … There is also an opportunity here, a window of opportunity for negotiations,” Milley was quoted as saying in a speech at the Economic Club of New York. .

At the same time, both European and American officials believe that there are still no signs of the Kremlin’s readiness for negotiations, writes the Washington Post. The publication also said that some NATO countries believe that it will be difficult for Ukraine to achieve a major breakthrough in the war in the near future, as the Ukrainian armed forces have to attack more urbanized areas closer to the territory where the troops have been stationed. Russian. for a long time. However, there is another opinion on this matter: other representatives of the West are more confident in Ukraine’s chances of serious progress in the war and do not believe that hostilities will stop, given that the Ukrainian air defense system has become more effective at intercepting missiles and drones of the Russian Armed Forces.

A Western diplomat said some European partners are concerned Washington is pushing Ukraine to negotiate before its troops can make further progress.

Remember, according to media reports, the White House could affect the softening of the position of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky on the impossibility of negotiating with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

We wrote it too Zelensky had previously signed a decree refusing to negotiate with Putin. This was the result of signing agreements on the annexation of the occupied Ukrainian territories.