Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that the US administration had betrayed Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelensky.
This was Zakharova's statement in response to US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan's announcement that Kiev must decide for itself whether it agrees to lose territory as part of peace negotiations.
“ First, Kiev needs to think about how to mobilize support from Washington, and when it is no longer there, start thinking about territorial concessions ,” Maria Zakharova said.
The “land for peace” scenario is being promoted by all parties in Ukraine. Photo: Getty |
According to Mr. Sullivan, President Zelensky openly admitted that the fighting needs to end through negotiations. The format of the negotiations is the subject of dialogue between Washington and Kiev.
White House reveals President Joe Biden's plans for Ukraine
Washington intends to provide Ukraine with every resource to strengthen its position at the front and in possible negotiations, Mr. Sullivan said.
“ We will do everything in our power in these 50 days to give Ukraine every tool possible to strengthen its position on the battlefield so that it can come to the negotiating table stronger ,” Mr. Jake Sullivan declared.
The US National Security Adviser added that the current US leader has directed the monitoring of large-scale military equipment deliveries to Ukraine so that Washington “will spend every dollar allocated to us by Congress by the time Biden leaves office.”
Mr. Sullivan also said that the US is focusing on providing conventional weapons to the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) and is not considering the possibility of returning nuclear weapons.
“ The United States is not considering the idea of returning the nuclear weapons Ukraine gave up after the collapse of the Soviet Union ,” Jake Sullivan stressed.
Pentagon confirms permission for AFU to use ATACMS missiles to attack Russian territory
Pentagon spokesman Patrick Ryder previously confirmed that Washington authorized Kiev to use long-range ATACMS missiles to strike deep into Russian territory: “ There has been a change in policy, the Ukrainians can use ATACMS for defense .”
According to Mr. Patrick Ryder, the Ukrainian army's attacks with US long-range missiles are currently focused on the Kursk region.
Meanwhile, White House Strategic Communications Coordinator John Kirby also noted that the AFU could fire on the Kursk region and “adjacent” territories with long-range US ATACMS missiles “in self-defense”: “ They currently have the ability to use ATACMS in self-defense in an emergency. Right now, you know, that’s clearly what’s happening in Kursk .”
At the same time, Florida Congressman Mike Waltz said that the US allowing ATACMS to attack Russian territory does not mean attacking major cities. He also called this measure an escalation of the conflict in Ukraine.
Former NATO Secretary General Wants Ukraine to Give Up Territory
Responding to Tagesschau news agency, former NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated that Ukraine could temporarily cede territory to achieve a quick ceasefire.
“ We need a demilitarized zone and, of course, ideally it would cover all the territories that Russia currently controls. But we see that this is not very realistic in the near future ,” said Jens Stoltenberg.
The former NATO Secretary General admitted that Kiev could “temporarily concede” territories for the sake of a ceasefire. Security guarantees are important for Ukraine, he said, which could include NATO membership and other means of support.
Earlier, the former head of the French military mission to the United Nations, General Dominique Trinquint, said that troops from Western countries could be deployed on the icy front line for Ukraine's security.
South Donetsk on fire
Military Summary channel reported that there are rumors that Ukraine is preparing to attack the autonomous region of Transnistria to share the battlefield with Russia. However, neither Kiev nor Moscow have commented on this information.
Meanwhile, the Russian Air Force has destroyed two bridges near the Ukraine-Belarus border. This appears to be a precautionary measure against a potential AFU counterattack. Earlier, AFU Commander-in-Chief Alexander Syrsky said it was necessary to regain the initiative, saying that deployment was only a matter of time.
Fierce clashes are taking place in the southern Donetsk region, including around Velyka Novosilka, Kurakhove and south of Pokrovsk. Russian sources say the town of Novi Komar, south of Velyka Novosilka, is being attacked by the Russian Army in an attempt to disrupt logistics near the front.
In the south of Kurakhove, the Russians are said to have advanced into agricultural areas. Further north, Stary Terny is also under attack, posing a significant threat to the supply lines for AFU units stationed in the city.
At Chasov Yar, Russian paratroopers have begun storming the forest south of the city. Ukrainian sources point out that the forest is fortified by the AFU with tunnels and bunkers, adding to the complexity of the fighting.
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