Anthony Blinken has spoken out against ceasefire talks between Russia and Ukraine
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has denied the possibility of ceasefire talks between Russia and Ukraine anytime soon. He expressed his opinion in an interview with the Funke media group.
The diplomat expressed concern that the ongoing negotiations could be misunderstood by the international community. “For some, the idea of a ceasefire may be tempting, and I understand that, but if it comes down to actually ratifying Russia’s takeover of a major Ukrainian, it won’t be a just and lasting peace,” Blinken said. He also pointed out that the truce could be an opportunity for Russia to regroup and attack again after some time.
The State Secretary also spoke about what he thinks should happen for the resumption of dialogue between Kiev and Moscow. “Russia needs to get to the point where it is ready to engage in constructive negotiations,” Blinken said. The diplomat did not decipher this message.
Earlier, the Russian authorities repeatedly reiterated their willingness to resolve issues at the negotiating table. Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov reminded reporters during a briefing in February that under Ukrainian law the president cannot communicate directly with the Kremlin. At the same time, the “Western states” are not inclined to grant Kiev freedoms in this matter.
