US officials warn Ukrainian government to be open to negotiations with Russia
US officials are said to have privately warned the Ukrainian government that international fatigue with Kiev will worsen if it continues to be unwilling to negotiate with Russia.
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Ukrainian soldiers take a break at the front line. Photo: Reuters |
Officials in Washington told the Washington Post that Ukraine's stance on negotiating with Russia was growing dimmer, while countries cooperating with Ukraine worried about the economic impact of a prolonged conflict.
Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelensky said Kiev was only ready to negotiate with Russia if Moscow withdrew its troops from all parts of Ukraine, including Crimea and the Donbas region in the east of the country.
The US has so far provided Ukraine with $18.9 billion in aid and is ready to provide more. However, Washington says its allies in Europe, Africa and Latin America are concerned about the tensions arising from the war affecting fuel and food prices and supply chains.
“Ukraine fatigue is real among some of our partners,” said a US official.
The Washington Post quoted unnamed US officials as saying that Washington's request for Kiev to signal openness to negotiations was not intended to push Ukraine into immediate negotiations, but was a calculated effort to ensure Ukraine received support from other countries.
The White House National Security Council did not immediately respond to a request for comment when asked if the report was accurate.