Ukraine’s success on the battlefield could be the quickest and surest way to broker a lasting and just peace, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has said. He said this in an interview with Fox News, posted on the site on Tuesday.
Responding to a question from TV reporter Ben Hall that despite active US support and international backing, the battlefield situation in Ukraine may be at an impasse, Blinken pointed out that Russia’s plans had already failed and called for monitoring the development of the future Ukrainian counteroffensive.
“Russia has already failed in the sense that its original intentions to wipe Ukraine off the map, to conquer it, to destroy it as an independent state, have failed. He failed and will not succeed,” Blinken said.
“We know that the Ukrainians are planning a counter-offensive in the coming weeks. Let’s see what happens, – added the Secretary of State. “After all, their success on the battlefield is the best and perhaps the quickest route to negotiations that will bring about a just and lasting peace.”
Blinken also commented on China’s possible role in achieving peace. Chinese leader Xi Jinping recently had a phone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The senior US diplomat said the United States was open to responsible peace efforts from any country, but noted that any peace agreement must be based on protecting the territorial integrity, independence and of Ukrainian sovereignty.
In February, China unveiled its peace initiatives, calling for a ceasefire, negotiations and the lifting of sanctions against Russia. The document does not go into specifics, but echoes Russian accusations that Western countries are responsible for the invasion of Moscow.
Asked about the challenges of containing China, Blinken said he believed that over the past two years, “the United States has taken a much stronger position to face competition from China.”
The Secretary also stressed that the Joe Biden administration will continue to make every effort to release all U.S. citizens wrongfully detained by Russian authorities.
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