NBC: The West is discussing with Ukraine what it will have to give up for peace with Russia
American and European officials have begun "calmly" discussing with the Ukrainian government possible peace talks with Russia, sources told NBC News. According to Western politicians, the conflict has reached an impasse, and the allies are running out of supplies allocated to help Kiev. NBC writes that Ukraine has until the end of the year or a little more before the start of "more urgent discussions of peace talks." For more information, see the material "Newspapers.Ru".
The United States and the European Union (EU) are discussing with Ukraine the possibility of holding peace talks with Russia, NBC News reports, citing two American officials. The authors of the article claim that Kiev probably has until the end of the year or a little more before "more urgent discussions of peace negotiations" begin.
The interlocutors of the TV channel, among whom there is a current high-ranking US official, said that "delicate" negotiations took place during a meeting of the contact group on the defense of Ukraine (Ramstein format) in October. According to officials, the conversations included "general information" about what Ukraine is likely to have to give up in order to reach an agreement with Russia.
According to NBC, American and European officials believe that the military conflict has "reached an impasse" and that they will not be able to continue helping Ukraine.
In addition, the TV channel notes that public attention to the conflict in Ukraine has decreased against the background of the war between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas in early October. This may make it difficult to obtain additional support from Ukraine. In this regard, Ukraine's allies have come to the conclusion that it is necessary to start discussing peace talks in the near future. "Any decisions on negotiations remain with Ukraine," National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said.
According to NBC News, Ukraine is being offered some NATO security guarantees even without officially joining the alliance in order to encourage Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky to start negotiations. A former senior White House official told NBC that Kiev may want to get more time for fighting after receiving heavy equipment, but "there is a growing feeling that it's too late and it's time to make a deal."
NBC sources say they have no information whether Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready for negotiations. Western officials believe that Moscow can continue military operations until the United States and its allies stop funding Ukraine.
Money problems for Ukraine
White House press Secretary Karin Jean-Pierre said on November 3 that the funds allocated for Kiev had almost run out, Reuters writes. In this regard, she urged to hurry to approve the application for additional funding.
While Democrats and Republicans in Congress have not come to a compromise on supporting Kiev, the United States has begun sending Ukraine small packages of military aid. According to Jean-Pierre, this will help to extend Kiev's support while the congress conducts discussions.
On November 3, the Pentagon announced that the United States would transfer weapons worth $125 million and $300 million to Ukraine as part of the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) program. Kiev will receive shells for the NASAMS anti-aircraft missile system and HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems, laser-guided ammunition against UAVs, anti-personnel mines, 12 trucks, insulated uniforms.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba, in an interview with the Ukrainian version of Forbes, shared his opinion on the beginning of possible negotiations with Russia:
According to him, the first step to start negotiations will be the withdrawal of Russian troops from the territory of Ukraine.
"Deadlock" in military operations
The commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Valery Zaluzhny, in a conversation with The Economist, said earlier that the fighting in Ukraine had reached an impasse. According to him, what is happening can transform into a "positional war" for years and "exhaust Ukraine." According to the military, most likely, there will be no breakthrough, since both sides have modern technology, which leads the conflict to a dead end. Zaluzhny claims that the Ukrainian troops had to reach the Crimea in four months, as stated in the "NATO textbooks", but the minefields did not allow them to do so.
The press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov did not agree with Zaluzhny, writes TASS .
"No, he hasn't reached a dead end. Russia consistently continues to conduct a special military operation. All the goals that were set must be fulfilled," Peskov said.
According to the press secretary, Kiev will not be able to win on the battlefield.
Alyona Fomina