"Ukrainians have to make fundamental decisions about carrying on the fight or looking to negotiate and try to bring this to a ceasefire" – Blinken
Benoit Tessier / Pool Photo via AP
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken believes that Ukraine will soon have to decide whether to continue fighting Russia or negotiate a ceasefire. In the event of negotiations, the US must guarantee Ukraine a strong position.
Blinken said this in an interview with MSNBC Morning.
At the same time, he admitted that the "fundamental question" is whether Russia will agree to peace talks and whether it will conduct them "in good faith."
If Ukraine goes to negotiations, the administration of current US President Joe Biden should provide Ukraine and the new administration of Donald Trump with "the best trump cards to conclude the strongest possible agreement."
According to Blinken, this means strengthening Ukraine's positions, having money, shells and mobilized personnel. He believes "it will be good" if "everything comes down to a ceasefire." However, it is worth making sure that Russia does not rearm and attack Ukraine again in a few years.
"It's a country [Ukraine – ed.] standing strongly as an independent country. It was not erased from the map. That's what Putin wanted to do. He's failed. It can stand strongly on its own feet militarily, economically, democratically. That's the best possible rebuke to Putin. And I know President Trump will want to get a good deal going forward," the Secretary of State says.
For reference:
During his visit to Belgium on November 13, Ukraine's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Andrii Sybiha, held crucial talks with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken in Brussels.
The two diplomats focused on several key topics:
- Enhancing Ukraine's defense capabilities,
- Strengthening the country's air defense in preparation for winter,
- The need for long-range weapons for Ukraine's Defense Forces,
- Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic integration efforts,
- Working towards a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace.
Minister Sybiha briefed Blinken on the devastating impact of Russia's large-scale night attack on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, which involved 96 drones and missiles, including ballistic ones. He condemned the attacks on civilians, emphasizing that Russia's actions were clear war crimes targeting innocent people, including families and children.
