Flags of Ukraine, the USA and the District of Columbia at the Capitol building in Washington. File photoWASHINGTON, Oct 18The U.S. intends to ensure that Ukraine is in the «strongest possible» position to begin peace talks with Russia, U.S. Under Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Karen Donfried said. «The U.S. is providing extraordinary support to Ukraine, including economic, military and humanitarian assistance. By providing this support, we want to ensure Ukraine is in the strongest possible position to start negotiations,» Donfried said at a briefing. >The United States announced the unwillingness of the West to see Ukraine as a winnerRussia previously sent a note to NATO countries because of the supply of weapons to Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov noted that any cargo that contains weapons for Ukraine will become a legitimate target for Russia. The Foreign Ministry of the Russian Federation stated that the NATO countries are «playing with fire» by supplying weapons to Ukraine. Press Secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov noted that pumping Ukraine with weapons from the West does not contribute to the success of Russian-Ukrainian negotiations and will have a negative effect. Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia has always said that it is open to negotiations on Ukraine if Kyiv matures, then the mediation efforts of those who propose will be in demand. In the United States announced the imminent change of policy on Ukraine
