The US presents a way to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict

The meetings peace negotiations between Moscow and Kiev would be a “reasonable choice” to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley said on May 31.

In an interview with Fox News, General Milley was asked about the outcome of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff said: “Right now, there is a very important battle in the Donbass between the Ukrainian and Russian armies. Progress of the battle Donbass over the next few weeks will probably largely shape the outcome of what happens.”

According to the American general, the conflict “could end in a devastating way and go on; it may end in a deadlock; it can end with one side or the other having a decisive victory; and could end up in a peace negotiation.”

General Milley later asserted that “a negotiated outcome is a reasonable choice, but both sides must come to that conclusion for themselves”.

“There is always the possibility of escalation. We must strictly manage the escalation … and prevent the conflict from expanding into something much more terrible than it is now,” he warned.

General Milley was also asked to comment on his recent statement that it is up to Ukraine to decide how to ultimately resolve disagreements with Russia.

“This is a conflict between Ukraine and Russia. How this ends on the battlefield will be decided by President Volodymyr Zelensky and President Vladimir Putin,” Milley said.

America actively supported Ukraine throughout the conflict, providing arms, finance, and intelligence to Kiev. Earlier this month, US President Joe Biden approved a $40 billion aid package for Ukraine.

Moscow says Washington’s support for Kiev will only escalate and prolong the fighting. Last month, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov described the conflict in Ukraine as a proxy war waged by the US-led NATO alliance against Russia.

General Milley is not the only notable Western official to call for a negotiated solution to the Ukrainian conflict in recent days, amid Russia’s rise to victory in the Donbass and Ukrainian officials claiming that the situation on the ground is “extremely bad” for Kiev.

On May 30, the head of foreign policy of EU Josep Borrell said the European Union should increase arms deliveries to Ukraine and impose more sanctions on Russia to give Kiev an edge in future peace talks with Moscow. Just over a month ago, Mr. Borrell insisted that Ukraine “must win this war”.