The Kremlin wanted to “sit on two chairs” and renew “friendship” with the White House while continuing its aggressive war against Ukraine. But Washington links these issues into a single case.
Moscow had hoped that continuing the war against Ukraine would not prevent it from resuming relations with Washington. However, the Kremlin had to admit that the White House did not share this position.
The New York Times writes about this.
The election of Donald Trump as US president this year gave Russia hope of renewing economic and diplomatic ties with the US. But on Thursday, June 19, the Kremlin made its most revealing statement yet about the difficulties its strategy for dealing with the White House faces.
“American diplomats believe that we need to directly link the process of eliminating irritants in bilateral relations with a settlement in Ukraine,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Friday at the annual economic forum in St. Petersburg.
Peskov reiterated the Kremlin’s position that Russia seeks to discuss relations with the United States separately from efforts to end the war in Ukraine. He argued that if the United States and Russia first focused on “building relations and eliminating irritants” between themselves, it would only “facilitate a more rapid settlement in Ukraine.”
The Kremlin had hoped that a “thaw” in relations with Washington would lead to the lifting of some economic sanctions, the return of American companies, U.S. investment in Russian natural resources, and greater freedom for Russia to pursue its interests in former Soviet republics. At the same time, Russian President Vladimir Putin has shown little interest in acquiescing to U.S., European, and Ukrainian demands for a cease-fire as his forces continue to advance.
Talks between Russia and the United States on resuming bilateral ties are also dragging on.
Recall that the Kremlin stated that Russia allegedly has a “strategic advantage” on the battlefield and does not want to lose it. In addition, according to Peskov, Russia is not ready to agree to an unconditional ceasefire with Ukraine because the West does not stop supplying weapons to Kyiv.
