Ukrainians say U.S. Democrats pressing for peace talks don't get Putin - The Washington Post

In a missive to Biden, 30 members of the wide helping of the Democratic party, led by Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), the seat of the legislature Progressive Caucus, called connected Biden to prosecute a “proactive push, doubling efforts to question a realistic model for a cease fire.”

Andriy Sybiha, the lawman caput of the Ukrainian statesmanlike medication and an advisor connected overseas affairs, declined to remark straight astir the wide Democrats’ missive but said Kyiv’s presumption “was precise clear” successful a five-point bid program presented by President Volodymyr Zelensky during the United Nations General Assembly successful September.

During his speech, Zelensky said that the cardinal points of his program were “punishment for aggression, extortion of life, restoration of information and territorial integrity, information guarantees, and determination to support oneself.”

Biden and different leaders of the Group of Seven antiauthoritarian economical powers endorsed Zelensky’s telephone for a “just peace” in a statement this month.

In the statement, the leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United States, Britain Kingdom and the European Union, said specified a bid “should include” assuring respect for territorial sovereignty arsenic enshrined successful the United Nations Charter, which would necessitate a afloat Russian withdrawal from Ukrainian territory.

Sybiha besides said that “no negotiations” were imaginable with Putin aft “attempts astatine amerciable annexation” and “sham referendums” that were carried retired astatine the extremity of past period successful the 4 Ukrainian regions partially occupied by Russian forces.

In effect to the letter, White House officials repeated Biden’s presumption that it would beryllium up to Zelensky and Ukraine to determine when, oregon if, to participate bid talks.

And Sybiha added that Ukraine was “completely assured successful the support” of the “U.S.A. and American people,” whom helium called Ukraine’s No. 1 ally.

But the missive inevitably adds to increasing anxiousness successful Kyiv astir maintaining important fiscal and subject enactment from Washington, particularly if Republicans regain power of Congress successful the upcoming midterm elections. Some Republican leaders person signaled an intent to reappraisal U.S. enactment for Ukraine.

The wide Democratic lawmakers are among a tiny but increasing chorus of voices calling connected the Ukrainians to prosecute the Russians straight to bring an extremity to the war, oregon astatine slightest present a cease-fire, though Putin has refused repeatedly to conscionable and talk straight with Zelensky.

Ukrainians are profoundly wary of being caught up successful Washington’s interior politics, particularly aft being ensnared successful President Donald Trump’s archetypal impeachment scandal, and they said they expected to perceive differing views. But determination was a consciousness of dismay implicit what they perceived arsenic a deficiency of knowing of Putin’s views.

“We don’t get betwixt Republicans and Democrats,” a elder Ukrainian authoritative said, speaking connected the information of anonymity to sermon delicate planetary relations. “That’s the interior authorities of a overseas government. That the positions connected this warfare volition beryllium varied, that’s expected.”

“The happening is, successful this war, it’s evident that Russia isn’t susceptible of negotiating successful bully faith,” the elder authoritative said, noting that Zelensky’s presumption is simply a willingness to sermon Russia’s demands lone erstwhile Ukraine’s territory has been restored.

“We had the acquisition of 2014, erstwhile we had an agreement, and however did that end,” the elder authoritative said. “For the Russians, it would beryllium to their vantage for determination to beryllium immoderate benignant of intermission successful fighting. But considering however overmuch demolition they’ve already caused, we person thing to lose.”

“Dialogue is for erstwhile each broadside takes a measurement backmost for immoderate greater goal,” the elder authoritative continued. “In the existent situation, they’ve already done truthful overmuch damage. They unsocial person ruined the chances for discussion. The lone happening near is atomic weapons. Other than that, they’ve done everything to us.”

A 2nd Ukrainian official, besides speaking connected the information of anonymity to sphere relations with Washington, was much blunt. “This is an encouraging awesome for Putin,” the 2nd authoritative said of the wide Democrats’ letter.

Orysia Lutsevych, the caput of the Ukraine Forum astatine the London-based Chatham House deliberation tank, said negotiations connected these presumption were “impossible.”

“Some radical say, ‘Look, astatine Finland — they’ve mislaid portion of their territory, but they preserved a nation-state,’ ” Lutsevych said by telephone from Berlin. “But you don’t privation to negociate with an force that wants to wholly destruct you. It’s not a viable proposition.”

Lutsevych said that the “proposal to negociate with Putin harks backmost to appeasement of Hitler” and that the United States “cannot negociate astir Ukraine without Ukraine.”

“Ukraine is defending its mode of life, which Russia wants to destroy,” she said. “This is what it’s about. It’s not astir territory.”

A European diplomat, speaking the connected information of anonymity due to the fact that of the sensitivity of the issue, said that the letter’s connection was “vague” and astir apt would not impact the presumption of E.U. subordinate countries.

“The Ukrainians would people constituent retired that a cease-fire would service Russia to regroup and bid their recently recruited forces,” the diplomat said.