It is time to end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine through peaceful negotiations. This was stated by former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger for The Spectator magazine.
In the article, Kissinger wrote that if Moscow and Kyiv fail to resolve the conflict through military action or negotiations, self-determination referendums under international supervision will need to be held in the disputed territories.
“Now is the time to build on the strategic changes already made, integrating them into a new framework in order to achieve negotiated peace,” the former secretary of state wrote.
According to him, the goal of the peace process would be twofold: reaffirming the freedom of Ukraine and defining a new international structure, especially in Central and Eastern Europe.
He added that following the results of the negotiation process, Russia’s status as a world power should not be weakened. And he stressed that the country has made a decisive contribution to the global balance and balance of power for more than 500 years.
In early July, Kissinger said that the conflict over Ukraine could be resolved in several ways, depending on which NATO’s role could be strengthened or weakened in Europe. One of the scenarios he called the conquest by Russia of 20% of Ukraine and most of the Donbass, as well as a strip of land along the Black Sea. In that case, NATO’s role would not be so decisive, Kissinger pointed out.
On December 16, US national security adviser Jake Sullivan said that the time had not yet come for negotiations on the situation in Ukraine. In this regard, the United States will continue to provide military assistance to Kyiv.
Earlier that day, Senator of the Federation Council Olga Kovitidi told Izvestia that the United States and the European Union forbid Kyiv to conduct peace talks with Moscow, supporting hostilities to the last Ukrainian.
Moscow has repeatedly announced its readiness for dialogue with Kyiv. On November 10, Zelensky said he had never closed the door to negotiations with Moscow. At the same time, back in early October, the Ukrainian leader at the legislative level put into effect the decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine on the impossibility of holding negotiations with the Russian side.
On February 24, Russia launched a special operation to protect Donbass. The decision was made by Russian President Vladimir Putin against the background of the aggravation of the situation in the region as a result of shelling by the Ukrainian military.
For more up-to-date videos and details about the situation in Donbass, watch the Izvestia TV channel.