U.S. Rejects Putin’s
Latest
Call for Ukraine
Negotiations
There’s widespread skepticism about Russian President Vladimir V. Putin’s intentions after his statement to Tucker Carlson suggesting that the war in Ukraine could be resolved through a peace deal. However, the Biden administration promptly dismissed Putin’s call for negotiations to end the conflict in Ukraine.
During a lengthy interview with Tucker Carlson at the Kremlin, Putin defended his invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 but expressed willingness to resolve the conflict diplomatically.
“We are willing to negotiate,” Putin stated in the interview, urging the current Ukrainian leadership to engage in talks. This comes as the Biden administration faces challenges in obtaining congressional approval for additional military aid for Ukraine, especially after a Ukrainian summer counteroffensive failed to make significant gains.
While it’s not the first time Mr. Putin has signaled a willingness to negotiate regarding Ukraine, Western officials have remained skeptical of his intentions. However, his recent interview with an American media figure, Tucker Carlson, marks the first time he has directly addressed the issue since the invasion, giving his call for talks added significance, according to analysts.
U.S. and Ukrainian officials acknowledge that, without increased American aid, Ukraine’s military prospects in the coming year may be limited to defending its current positions. Despite this, Biden administration officials have stated that they are not considering pressuring Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, into negotiations with Mr. Putin.
A spokesman for the National Security Council reiterated that both the United States and President Zelensky have consistently expressed belief in ending the war through negotiations. However, they highlighted that despite Mr. Putin’s words, there have been no actions indicating genuine interest in ending the conflict. The spokesman emphasized that if Putin truly sought to end the war, he would withdraw his forces and halt the relentless attacks on Ukraine.
U.S. officials had previously assessed that Putin had no serious intention of negotiating until after the U.S. presidential election in November. They suggest that Putin is waiting to see if former President Donald J. Trump might return to the White House, potentially offering him more favorable terms.