US Defense Secretary Austin believes Ukraine conflict can end with negotiations

According to RIA Novosti, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said on October 23 that the Ukraine conflict will end through negotiations.

"We need to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East and seek to achieve a transition period in Ukraine. We will continue to support Ukraine, as we have said, and they will determine when it is time to come to the negotiating table. As I have said before, this conflict will end with negotiations at some point," Pentagon chief Austin said in a conversation with reporters in Rome.

On the same day, commenting to Finnish media, Andrei Yermak, Chief of Staff of the President of Ukraine, declared that Kiev is ready to discuss a peaceful solution to end the current conflict, if there is an agreement to ensure territorial integrity.

According to Mr. Yermak, any proposal that does not take into account Ukraine's sovereignty and its borders is unacceptable.

"Ukraine is ready to discuss all possible options for resolving the conflict if they address territorial integrity, sovereignty and inviolability of borders," Mr. Yermak said.

The statement by the Chief of Staff of the President of Ukraine came after reports in Western media that the country was reportedly ready to end the conflict in exchange for Ukraine joining NATO.

Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview with the Financial Times that the first step to ending the conflict is to stop attacking each other's energy infrastructure.