U.S. privately asks Ukraine to show Russia it's open to negotiation

[former9thward]

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, according to people familiar with the discussions.

The request by American officials is not aimed at pushing Ukraine to the negotiating table, these people said. 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 discussions illustrate how complex the Biden administration’s position on Ukraine has become, as U.S. officials publicly vow to support Kyiv with massive sums of aid “for as long as it takes” while hoping for a resolution to the conflict that over the past eight months has taken a punishing toll on the world economy and triggered fears of nuclear war.

“Ukraine fatigue is a real thing for some of our partners,” said one U.S. official who, like other interviewed for this report, spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive conversations between Washington and Kyiv.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2022/11/05/ukraine-russia-peace-negotiations/

[Biophilic]

1. They are going to get a lot more fatigued if they give in to Russia.

Then they can look forward to this kind of war fatigue every couple of years as Russia does what it has said it’s going to do. They’ve already indicated they have their eyes on other countries.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

3. You nailed it.

[Nululu]

2. Yes Ukraine will stop killing Russians

While they leave Ukraine.

But they will need the murderers, child rapists, and genocidal maniacs arrested and brought to Ukraine for justice.

They will need those thousands of Ukrainians kidnapped returned.

Start that and Ukraine will stop killing you and guarantee not to invade Russia.

[TheBlackAdder]

4. Yeah, negotiate: Get the fuck out of Ukraine and its Crimea. Pay each family $1M Euro damages.

[Bleacher Creature]

5. What is there to negotiate??? How much Russia pays in reparations??

Russia can't invade a peaceful neighbor, commit war crimes, and then walk away in a better position than it started.

[Mr.Bill]

6. I will say the USA promising to support Ukraine

"for as long as it takes" greatly strengthens Ukraine's hand in any negotiations that may come to pass. Imagine their position at the table without us backing them.

[Emrys]

7. This is a near-retread of another "anonymous officials" story from a few weeks ago.

That one also looked to hint at weakening support for Ukraine's continued struggle.

Rather than focusing on the supposed content of such articles, it raises the questions "Why now?" and "Who does this serve?"

[Xolodno]

8. Polls in the USA and other nations show "fatigue".

This is probably the strongest position Ukraine has to negotiate. Once winter and the recession hits, public support is going to evaporate. Plus, Putin just turned 70, he's not going to be around much longer. However, we could get someone worse. Deal with the devil you know...