The United States is set to host a new round of talks between Ukrainian and American officials today, focusing on paths towards peace between Kyiv and Moscow. This comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a fresh warning to the West, highlighting the advances of Russian forces on multiple fronts.
According to lead Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov, the Ukrainian delegation will commence discussions with their American counterparts today, centered on proposals to end the ongoing conflict with Russia. Umerov indicated that European partners of Kyiv will also participate in the negotiations.
These talks occur amidst efforts by the European Union to assist Kyiv in avoiding an agreement, reportedly favored by the United States, that is perceived as a concession to Moscow. Meanwhile, the Kremlin is aiming to exclude European involvement from the negotiation process.
President Putin stated earlier today that the onus is on Ukraine and the West to engage in negotiations aimed at ending the war. He affirmed Russia’s readiness to negotiate and resolve the conflict peacefully. However, he accused the West of deception through the continued expansion of NATO, pledging that Russia would not attack other nations if treated with respect and its interests are considered.
Putin made these remarks during his annual end-of-year press conference, broadcast live across Russia. With the arrival of a new winter, Putin asserted that Moscow would seize the remaining territories in eastern Ukraine by force if diplomatic efforts fail.
“Our forces are advancing along the entire line of contact… and the enemy is retreating in all directions,” Putin stated. “I am confident that we will see further successes before the end of the year.”
Putin escalated his rhetoric this week, reportedly referring to EU leaders with derogatory terms and vowing to control the remaining Ukrainian territories that Russia has claimed to annex, using military means if necessary.
In his address today, Putin also warned of severe consequences if the EU proceeds with a proposal to use frozen Russian assets in Europe to finance Ukraine’s defense. He declared that moving forward with such action would…
