Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Dec. 19, saying the U.S. has to drive Russia and Ukraine 'toward each other, so they can find a middle ground on a possible peace deal and end the war.
Ukraine says new rounds of talks between
Keev and Washington are starting in the
US today. Secretary of State Marco Rubio
explains where things stand in the
ongoing peace process. Entities
international correspondent Arian Pazdar
has more.
>> What we're trying to figure out here is
what can Ukraine live with and what can
Russia live with? Sort of identify what
both sides positions are and see if we
can sort of drive them towards each
other to some agreement. Secretary of
State Marco Rubio saying conflicts
usually end in one of two ways.
Surrender by one side or a negotiated
settlement. But Rubio says he doesn't
see either side surrendering anytime
soon. So it'll have to be a settlement.
>> A negotiated settlement requires two
things. Both sides to get something out
of it and both sides to give something.
And we're trying to figure out what can
Russia give and what do they expect to
get. What can Ukraine give and what can
Ukraine expect to get in? He added that
the US can only do so much and in the
end the final decision will be up to
Russia and Ukraine. Ukraine peace
negotiators starting a new round of
talks with the US team on Friday. KF
says that's regarding proposals to end
the fighting with Russia. The US team
held talks in Berlin with Ukrainian and
European officials earlier this week.
President Vladimir Zalinski said that
Ukraine and the United States had agreed
on several documents, including security
guarantees and a reconstruction plan for
Ukraine, but he said no aligned final
proposals had been agreed on, adding
that the territorial issues remained
unresolved.
Russian President Vladimir Putin offered
no compromise on Friday, saying it's up
to Ukraine and Europe to make the next
move. Meanwhile, in Europe, officials
agreed to loan Ukraine over a hundred
billion dollars. The money will come
from the European budget.
>> For us today, this is an important
victory. This is a signal to the
Russians that there is no point in them
continuing to fight because we are
supported financially, which means we
will not crumble at the front.
Most European nations wanted to use
frozen Russian assets to aid Ukraine,
but such a loan has never been provided
before. It turned out to be too complex
and politically demanding to resolve at
this stage. Russian President Vladimir
Putin says the move would amount to
theft.
No matter what and how they steal, they
will need to give it back at some point.
Besides, we will defend our interests in
courts. Possible legal repercussions
were precisely one of the main reasons
why Europe didn't move ahead with the
plan. But there might still be another
attempt in the future. Arian Pastar, NTD
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