WASHINGTON: The United States (US) is pressing Ukraine to be open to a peace dialogue with Russia with a top US Defense official saying Kyiv’s troops will find it difficult to retake all the territory Moscow has captured in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
US top officials on Kyiv-Moscow talks
The US Joint Chiefs Chairman said that Ukraine’s success in countering Russia’s attack puts it in a better position to start the dialogue. And last week US Joint Chiefs Chairman Mark Milley compared the present situation to the first World War when the two parties ground to a deadlock within months but continue fighting for 3 years at the cost of millions of human beings.
White House’s Statement on Kyiv-Moscow talks
He said that there may be a political settlement and there is a need to hold talks from a position of an upper hand. He claimed that Moscow right now is on its back. White House spokesperson John Kirby insisted Thursday that the United States (US) is not pushing Kyiv to hold dialogue or cede territory.
He told the media that only Ukrainian President Zelensky gets to determine if and when he is ready for talks. He added that nobody from the US is forcing, and pushing Zelensky to the talks.
White House and top officials of US and Russia meeting in Turkey
On Monday CIA Director William Burns also held talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Naryshkin in Turkey, the highest-level contact of the US and Russian officials since the conflict in Ukraine.
The details of their meeting did not share with the media but Burns flew to Ukraine to meet with President Zelensky. However, the White House said that Burns is not holding negotiations of any kind and they firmly stick to their main principle. The White House has also asked Congress for another 38 billion dollars to assist Ukraine. APP
