Ned Price: Russia 'In No Mood' For Constructive Dialogue

The State Department on Tuesday sharply criticized the Kremlin's rebuffing of Ukraine's calls for peace, and pledged to provide Kyiv with the type of defensive capabilities that it needs "for as long as it takes," TURAN's Washington correspondent reports.

"At every opportunity the Russians seem to be meeting Ukraine’s call for a just peace with more escalation and with a very clear acknowledgement that Russia is in no mood for constructive dialogue," department spokesperson Ned Price told a daily press briefing in response to TURAN's questions.

The Kremlin said earlier that there could be no progress in resolving the Ukraine conflict unless Kyiv recognizes occupied territories as Russian.

Price, in his response, said that the Kremlin's comments were now new because they stand "in stark contrast to what we have heard from Ukraine, and for that matter, much of the rest of the world over the course of many months now."

He recalled that during the G20 in Bali President Zelenskyy participated by video conference, where he laid out Ukraine’s vision, for a just peace, a just end to this war.

"That vision of a just peace wasn’t met with a reciprocal vision for a just peace on the part of the Russian Federation. Instead, it was met with bombs and missiles raining down on Ukrainian towns and cities, a continuation of the brutal escalation and assault that Russia’s forces have undertaken against civilian targets, including the energy infrastructure sites that we’ve talked about at some length in recent days," he said.

As Russia continues to demonstrate this attitude, Price said, "we are continuing to do what has proven effective: provide Ukraine with the security assistance it needs, with the economic assistance it needs, including the infrastructure assistance it needs, and with the humanitarian assistance the people of Ukraine need to be able to weather this cold winter."

He went on to add, "We’re doing that in conjunction with dozens of countries around the world. Not only is it providing support to the Ukrainian people during their time of need, but we believe that doing so is the best means by which to accelerate the process of developing a negotiating table, and once that negotiating table has come to fruition, the best means by which to strengthen Ukraine’s hand at that negotiating table."

Price's comment came as several U.S. media reported about a plan for Washington planning to send the Patriot missile defense system to Ukraine. Defence Secretary Lloyd Ausin still needs to approve the plan before President Biden can sign off, which he is expected to do. It’s unclear how many missile launchers would be sent.

If the Pentagon’s plan goes through, the Patriot will be the most effective long-range system sent to Ukraine.

Alex Raufoglu

Washington D.C.