It seems foreign policy towards Ukraine is shifting towards ENDING the WAR. GOOD NEWS!
www.nbcnews.com/news/world/former-us-officials-secret-ukraine-talks-russians-war-ukraine-rcna92610
A group of former senior U.S. national security officials has held secret talks with prominent Russians believed to be close to the Kremlin — and, in at least one case, with the country’s top diplomat — with the aim of laying the groundwork for negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, half a dozen people briefed on the discussions said.
In a high-level example of the back-channel diplomacy taking place behind the scenes, Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov met with members of the group for several hours in April in New York, four former officials and two current officials said.
WASHINGTON, July 6 (Reuters) – President Joe Biden’s administration did not sanction or support secret meetings that former top U.S. national security officials held with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and other Russians on potential talks to end the Ukraine war, the White House and State Department said on Thursday.
NBC News reported that the former U.S. officials met Lavrov in New York in April, joined by Richard Haass, a former U.S. diplomat and outgoing president of the Council on Foreign Relations, and two former White House aides.
It was not clear how frequently the group, which included former Pentagon officials, held discussions with other prominent Russians thought to be close to the Kremlin, NBC News reported. At least one unidentified group member traveled to Russia, it said.
BREAKING 🚨 A group of former US national security officials have held secret talks with prominent Russians, including the Kremlin’s top diplomat, with the aim of laying the groundwork for negotiations to end the war in Ukraine – NBC News
— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) July 6, 2023
Looks like they’re going AROUND the Biden administration on this now.
Biden just announced a new aid package for Ukraine including cluster munitions.
⚡⚡ 🇺🇲 Tomorrow, the Biden administration will announce a new package of military aid to 🇺🇦 Ukraine. The package will also include cluster munitions — Reuters#US #UnitedStates #Washington #Ukraine #UkraineWar #UkraineRussiaWar #Kremlin #Moscow #Bakhmut #Donetsk #Zaporizhzhia pic.twitter.com/KH5YSJfcon
— Ukrainian Witness 🇺🇦 (@warinukraineua) July 6, 2023
h/t Lapis Lazuli