U.S. Denies Pressuring Ukraine To Negotiate With Russia

Washington D.C./08.11.23/Turan:   The State Department on Wednesday denied reports about Washington's pressuring Ukraine to negotiate with Russia, TURAN's Washington correspondent reports.

"We are not aware of any conversations with Ukraine about negotiations outside of the peace formula structure that you’ve already seen a number of engagements take place on," Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel told TURAN's correspondent during a daily briefing.

He went on to add, "Any negotiations... are up to Ukraine.  And as we have said a number of times before, nothing should happen about Ukraine without Ukraine"

Patel concluded:  "But it continues to be incredibly clear... that the Kremlin has no interest in negotiating or ending this war, and we are committed to supporting our Ukrainian partners."

Earlier, the U.S. media reported that officials from both Washington and Brussels had allegedly begun discussions with Ukraine on the possibility of peace talks with Russia.

The move came as Western support for Ukraine has notably wavered in recent weeks, due to other wars and ongoing partisan battles over aid funding in the U.S. Congress.

However, State Department's spokesperson Matthew Miller last week told TURAN's corresponden that the U.S.has 'not lost focus in any sense' on the need to support Ukraine.

On Wednesday, four top Biden administration officials, including Secretary Antony Blinken sent a letter to the Congress urging lawmakers to provide $11.8 billion in direct budget support to Kyiv to help pay its day-to-day bills.

"Russia started the war in Ukraine and could end it at any time by withdrawing its forces and stopping its brutal attacks," Blinken tweeted Wednesday night. 

The Secretary added:  "Until it does, the United States has a clear way forward: Help Ukraine defend itself. Support the Ukrainian people. Hold Russia accountable."

Alex Raufoglu