President Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has been “green lighted” by Washington in a recent move. Accordingly, Zelensky could offer to ease international sanctions against Russia in exchange for Russia ending its military offensive against Ukraine.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken made such a proposal on April 3, confirming in an NBC News interview that Zelensky was likely to negotiate sanctions relief on Russia to in return for peace to Ukraine.
He said the administration of President Joe Biden will support whatever the Ukrainian people want to end the war.
Mr Blinken said: “We will look at what Ukraine is doing and what it wants to do. And if Ukraine concludes that there may be a way to end this war, end the death and destruction and continue to assert its independence and our sovereignty – and ultimately demanding the lifting of sanctions against Russia – we will, of course, facilitate that.”
The United States and its allies are doing everything they can to strengthen Kiev’s position at the negotiating table, but the sanctions are intended to influence Russia’s actions – not stay in place indefinitely – Blinken said.
He denied NBC host Chuck Todd’s suggestion that now was not the time to negotiate concessions with Russia, saying how to end the war in Ukraine was up to the Ukrainians. He also rejected Todd’s comment that the Russian president should not be allowed to stay in power, saying that Vladimir Putin’s future depends on the Russian people.
Although Mr. Blinken argued that Mr. Putin had failed to fulfill his “objectives” in Ukraine – to subdue Kiev, project Russia’s military might and divide NATO members – he said pursuing talks Diplomacy is still a must.
“Although he has faltered, although I believe this has been a strategic defeat for Vladimir Putin, the devastation he is causing every day in Ukraine…so we are. is also very interested in ending those problems,” Blinken stated.
Other leaders have suggested that the West be tough on its pledges of sanctions relief to avoid benefiting Russia or helping Putin weather the crisis unscathed. .
In fact, last weekend, Mr. Biden surprised many by saying that Mr. Putin “couldn’t stay in power”. Later, US Secretary of State Blinken was forced to clarify, saying that the US was not seeking regime change in Russia or anywhere else.
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also appeared to agree with Mr Blinken, saying the US should support Ukrainians as they choose the “best path forward” for their country.
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