Washington: Zelensky alone decides to start negotiations with Russia
The White House confirmed on Friday that only Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky can agree to start negotiations with Russia, rejecting the idea of US pressure on Kyiv.
"We all agree that a negotiated diplomatic solution is the best possible solution, except for (Russian President Vladimir) Putin deciding to withdraw his forces" from Ukraine, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters.
"We also said that it is up to President Zelensky to say if and when he will be (ready) for negotiations and what form those negotiations will take; no one in the United States is polling with him or insisting or pushing him to the negotiating table," he added.
The negotiations are becoming increasingly important in light of the massive Russian strikes targeting civilian infrastructure in Ukraine.
Kirby was asked about the statements of the US Chief of Staff, General Mark Milley, who said twice recently that there is a possible opportunity to start talks in order to find a political solution to the conflict.
"The Russians are in a really bad position, so you will want to negotiate when you are in a strong position and your opponent is in a weak position," Al-Khamees said.
US media recently reported that some senior officials have begun to encourage Ukraine to consider negotiation, which Zelensky has so far refused.
During the G20 summit on Tuesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Ukraine's conditions were "unrealistic" for starting talks to end the war.
Ukraine is calling for the withdrawal of Russian forces from its territory, while Moscow announced the annexation of four Ukrainian regions at the end of September, in addition to the Crimean peninsula, which it annexed in 2014.
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