No Indication Russia Prepared To Engage In Genuine Diplomacy: State Department

Washington on Tuesday dismissed Moscow's claims that peace in Ukraine when it came "would be on the Kremlin's terms" as Russian forces struck targets across the country with missiles even as their ground offensive stuttered.

"What we have seen is Moscow already thwarted in its strategic ambitions," State Department spokesperson Ned Price told TURAN's correspondent during his daily press briefing.

Dmitry Medvedev, Russia's former president and currently head of its Security Council, was quoted on Tuesday saying that Moscow was ready to do whatever it took in order to prevail. "Russia will achieve all its goals. There will be peace - on our terms," Medvedev reportedly said.

According to Price, Russia went into Ukraine months ago with the intention of subverting the Ukrainian Government, of subjugating the Ukrainian people, and more broadly of dividing NATO, dividing the West, dividing the broader international community. On each of its strategic aims, Moscow has failed, he said.

"When it comes to what we’re seeing now, we are seeing heavy fighting in parts of Ukraine, especially in the Donbas in eastern Ukraine. Territory is going back and forth, trading hands rather consistently" Price said.

"Our charge and what we are doing is supporting our Ukrainian partners in the interim, providing them with precisely what they need to continue to defend their territory, but also their democracy and their freedoms. Not only is this allowing and enabling our Ukrainian partners to be effective on the battlefield, but it is strengthening their hands at any negotiating table that will emerge," he added.

"And I say “any negotiating table” because we’ve heard from President Zelenskyy that this conflict can only end diplomatically."

But until this point at least, "we’ve seen no indication from Russia that they are prepared to engage in genuine diplomacy," Price said.

Alex Raufoglu

Washington D.C.