London: Recent revelations indicate that the United States has rebuffed a ceasefire proposal from Russian President Vladimir Putin in the midst of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, despite diplomatic endeavors aimed at stemming the violence.
Diplomatic Efforts Meet Resistance In late 2023, efforts to mediate between Russia and the US unfolded in Türkiye, with the objective of de-escalating the situation in Ukraine. Despite Russia initiating informal discussions through intermediaries, as reported by Reuters citing Russian sources, a US official appeared to be uninformed about these dialogues.
Prominent US figures such as Jake Sullivan, Bill Burns, and Antony Blinken were actively engaged. Sullivan’s anticipated dialogue with Putin’s advisor, Yuri Ushakov, was intended to chart a path forward but reportedly veered towards other bilateral concerns instead of broaching the topic of a ceasefire, underscoring the US’s insistence on including Ukraine in peace negotiations.
Stalemate in Talks Negotiations encountered a deadlock when Sullivan, during a call in January, purportedly conveyed to Ushakov that the US was open to discussing various facets of the relationship but was not willing to entertain a ceasefire that excluded Ukraine.
“The communications with the Americans yielded no results,” divulged a senior Russian source.
Another Russian source lamented that the insistence by the US on Ukraine’s involvement ultimately led to the collapse of the discussions.
No End in Sight Despite purported indications of Putin’s willingness to engage in ceasefire talks, the impasse suggests a protracted conflict, with the Kremlin perceiving diminishing value in further dialogues with the US.
Both parties remain entrenched, with the US explicitly articulating its stance of not engaging in negotiations without the participation of Ukraine or compromising on Ukrainian territorial integrity.
The Kremlin, White House, US State Department, and CIA have all maintained a conspicuous silence on the matter.
A US official underscored the lack of participation in unofficial talks and reiterated the steadfast position of not dictating Ukraine’s future without its explicit consent.
