[Global Times correspondent in Russia Sui Xin, Chen Kang, Liu Yupeng] Just as Ukraine, the United States and Europe and other Western countries cheered and celebrated the "great victory" achieved by the Ukrainian army in Kherson, it was surprising that senior officials of Ukraine and the United States and The media have frequently mentioned "negotiations with Russia" in the past two days.

Even Ukrainian President Zelensky, who had written "never negotiate" in the presidential decree, suddenly changed his tune a few days ago, saying that the international community should "force Russia to conduct real peace negotiations."

However, the Russian side believes that the various information about the negotiation sent by the Ukrainian side is full of contradictions and does not believe it.

At present, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine has been nearly nine months. The two sides are in a stalemate on the battlefield, and the war is showing a long-term trend.

Western countries such as the United States and Europe are also caught in the quagmire of energy and inflation crises brought about by the war.

NBC quoted a "Western official with knowledge of military operations" as saying: "In winter, everything slows down. Regarding the possibility of (Russia-Ukraine) negotiations, we would like to see that happen."

　　Ukraine frequently releases negotiation signals

　　According to the Associated Press, when U.S. Secretary of State Blinken met Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on the 12th, Ukraine will decide the relevant time and content of the negotiations with Russia.

Blinken also said the United States is firmly committed to assisting Ukraine in mitigating the impact of Russia's attack on Ukraine's critical infrastructure as winter approaches.

　　According to Reuters, Kuleba said at a press conference on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit that Ukraine would consider the request for talks by Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov, who was present at the meeting.

However, Russia's "Business Consulting Daily" said that later in the day, Kuleba claimed that the Russian Foreign Minister did not propose a meeting to him, "I have not seen any signs that Moscow is sincerely preparing for negotiations, and I doubt whether it is necessary to sit at the table. Take a nice photo."

　　Regarding whether the negotiations between Russia and Ukraine will resume, Ukraine and the United States have made various recent statements.

Alahamia, chairman of the parliamentary group of the People's Servant Party, who served as the head of the Ukrainian delegation in the Russia-Ukraine negotiations, said on the 12th that Ukraine may resume negotiations with Russia as early as the second half of 2023.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also said recently that the international community should "force Russia to conduct real peace talks".

He also put forward several conditions for the negotiations: restore Ukraine's territorial integrity, compensate for all the damage caused by the war, punish every war criminal... The Associated Press said that the preconditions for negotiations proposed by Zelensky would not work for Moscow , it's hard to see how he will move the negotiations forward.

However, the change in wording also reflects a change in his attitude towards the peace talks.

　　NBC said that with the Russian-Ukrainian conflict at a stalemate, it is impossible for both Ukraine and Russia to fully achieve their goals, so this provides an opportunity to use the lull in the conflict to renegotiate.

However, the report said that considering that a large number of Russian troops are still deployed in Ukraine, the US does not want to create an atmosphere in which the West is pushing Ukraine to negotiate.

　　Russia: Ukrainian conditions are absurd

　　Regarding the information that Ukraine and the United States have recently released frequent negotiations, Kosachev, deputy chairman of the Russian Federation Council (upper house of parliament), said on the 12th that Zelensky and other senior officials in Ukraine deliberately proposed absurd and Moscow unacceptable preconditions for negotiations.

"Zelensky's recent statement is, first of all, a refusal to negotiate; second, he is trying to hide the obvious fact that Ukraine's position (whether to negotiate) is not decided by Kyiv, but by Washington," he said.

　　The "Russia Today" website said on the 12th that Ukraine has been sending contradictory signals about whether to talk with Russia.

According to the report, Kuleba said so much, but did not clearly indicate whether Kyiv would accept Russia’s request for negotiations.

　　Another report on the site said Washington and Kyiv consciously offered negotiating terms that Russia could not accept.

Bajuk, a Russian political scientist, said the U.S. privately pushed Ukraine to release negotiations, which showed Washington's lack of confidence in defeating Russia.

Washington has signaled, publicly or secretly, to Kyiv to de-escalate the escalating conflict.

Europe in particular is concerned that the situation is deteriorating and their arsenals and financial reserves are being depleted.

The United States is also mired in an energy and inflation crisis.

In order to protect face, it is proposed to let Ukraine negotiate with Russia.

　　Russia strikes again

　　For the Russian and Ukrainian military, what is not available on the battlefield is also difficult to obtain at the negotiating table.

A few days ago, the Russian army abandoned part of the Kherson area west of the Dnieper River and retreated to the east bank for defense.

This is regarded by many as a victory for Ukraine and embarrassing for Russia.

However, most international media, including Western media, believe that this victory cannot fundamentally change the situation of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.

　　The Russian Satellite News Network said on the 13th that Kyiv and 11 other areas in Ukraine were hit by Russian air strikes again that day.

According to the report, starting from October 10, the Russian military has used long-range high-precision weapons to attack infrastructure targets such as energy in various parts of Ukraine.

Since then, air raid sirens have been sounded every day across Ukraine.

　　Zelensky issued a video speech on the 12th warning not to get carried away by the victory in Kherson.

He said: "Fighting is taking place in the Donbass. In the Donetsk region, it is hell right now." Kyiv City Council member Vitrenko said on the 13th that Kyiv is facing a serious situation, if people have In better conditions for the winter, they can leave Kyiv.

　　Dmitry Medvedev, vice chairman of the Russian Federation Security Council, posted on social media on the 12th that Russia is fighting the entire West alone. "Russia is recovering its territory since ancient times, not the other way around. This recovery will continue."

The day before, Medvedev said after inspecting the military manufacturing department of the Kurgan Machinery Factory that "some people are hysterical and too panicked about the situation and it is incomprehensible."

　　The New York Times of the United States said that there was disagreement at the top of the U.S. government on whether to end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine through diplomatic means.

The report said that the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Mark Milley, urged negotiations, while other senior White House officials believe that it is too early to negotiate.

At a recent internal meeting, Milley said that the Russian retreat from Kherson was to create a more defensive front.

Citing the example of the First World War, he said such a war would not change the dynamics of both sides, but would cause millions of senseless casualties.

　　Another report in the paper said that wars usually go on for many years.

The United States has fought in Afghanistan for 20 years and in Iraq for many years.

The report lamented that perhaps peace talks will only begin when both sides are exhausted or one side looks defeated.

　　(Source: Global Times Author: Sui Xin, Chen Kang, Liu Yupeng)