Biden Urges Ukraine to Negotiate, as Talks with Russia Resume
President Joe biden has stated that Ukraine shoudl quickly begin negotiations with Russia to de-escalate the ongoing conflict. “That’s all I’ll say on it,” he said,according to reports. This statement comes as Ukrainian and Russian delegations prepare to resume talks, with a shift in the Russian negotiating team.
Background:
* On February 16th, the Ukrainian delegation arrived in Geneva for the latest round of negotiations.
* Russia has appointed vladimir Medinsky, an aide to president Vladimir Putin, to lead its delegation, replacing the previous lead negotiator.
* Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed hope on February 14th that the change in the russian negotiating team would not hinder the negotiation process, notably regarding potential US and Russian involvement in reaching a ceasefire.
The call for negotiations from President biden reflects growing international pressure to find a diplomatic solution to the conflict, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in february 2022. The situation remains fluid, and the outcome of the renewed talks is uncertain.
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