Russia showing signs for ‘serious’ negotiations over Ukraine: U.S. official
Global News
Russia is showing signs it might be willing to have substantive negotiations over Ukraine, said U.S. Deputy Secretary of State.
Russia is showing signs it might be willing to have substantive negotiations over Ukraine, even as Moscow currently is intent on “destroying” its neighbor, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman said on Sunday.
Sherman, in an interview with “Fox News Sunday,” said the United States is putting “enormous pressure” on Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree to a cease-fire in its weeks-old invasion of Ukraine and to allow the creation of humanitarian corridors to allow civilians to escape.
“That pressure is beginning to have some effect. We are seeing some signs to have real, serious negotiations. But I have to say … so far it appears Vladimir Putin is intent on destroying Ukraine,” Sherman said.
Sherman did not elaborate on hints Moscow may have provided about such negotiations. But earlier on Sunday, Russian and Ukrainian officials gave upbeat assessments on progress in talks, saying results could be achieved within days.
White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan echoed the alarming administration assessment of Putin’s intentions, telling CNN: “As things stand right now, Vladimir Putin does not look like he is prepared to stop the onslaught” against Ukraine.
Following a Russian attack on a military base near Poland’s border where NATO defenses are deployed, Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby said he did not believe a NATO-imposed no-fly zone over Ukraine would have prevented that.
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And he said that while a no-fly zone has a “nice air policing sound,” such a move by NATO would hurl the United States into war with Russia.