The US believes that supplying weapons to Ukraine will push Russia toward negotiations.
The US Permanent Representative to NATO stated that US arms supplies to Ukraine would push Russia toward negotiations and the signing of an agreement.
According to RIA Novosti on August 3, the US Permanent Representative to NATO, Matthew Whitaker, believes that the US will encourage Russia to negotiate and achieve a lasting ceasefire in Ukraine by providing weapons to NATO partners.
In early August, Reuters, citing sources, reported that NATO and the U.S. were exploring a new approach to supplying American weapons to Ukraine, which Kyiv considers a top priority, at the expense of coalition funds.
According to Reuters sources, work is currently underway on a new mechanism in which Kyiv should compile its own priority list of weapons. After establishing these priorities, coalition states will discuss which of them will receive these weapons or pay for them. It is planned to send weapons in batches worth approximately $500 million each.
"I hope that active U.S. engagement, including the provision of our weapons to NATO allies, will force Russia back to the negotiating table, and ultimately lead to a ceasefire agreement," Whitaker said in an interview with WHO 13 News.
At the same time, Whitaker mentioned that the conflict in Ukraine, as President Trump has repeatedly stated, cannot be resolved entirely through military means; a final solution can only be achieved at the negotiating table.
On Moscow's side, former Russian President's press secretary Dmitry Peskov stated that Russia remains committed to the peace process to resolve the conflict surrounding Ukraine and ensure the interests of the Russian Federation.
Meanwhile, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban stated on August 2nd that resolving the conflict in Ukraine would only be possible once everyone recognizes the impossibility of that country being a member of NATO.
"Peace will come when Americans, Europeans, and Ukrainians realize the reality that Moscow will never allow NATO in Ukraine – near Russia's western border," Prime Minister Orban said.
At the same time, he emphasized that Brussels' current position does not contribute to a resolution in Ukraine, because "almost the entire European Union, with the exception of Hungary and possibly Slovakia, is actually involved in the conflict."
