WASHINGTON, Jan 24 The State Department said the new US ambassador in Moscow, Lynn Tracy did not discuss a «negotiated settlement» of the conflict in Ukraine with her Russian counterpart in Washington, Anatoly Antonov.
The press secretary of the Foreign Ministry, Ned Price, confirmed that such a meeting took place on the eve of Tracy's departure, but, like the Russian side, did not disclose the content of the conversation.
«But I can make it pretty clear that she didn't discuss. She didn't discuss any form of negotiated settlement of Russia's brutal war against Ukraine,» Price told reporters.
He repeated that, from the point of view of the United States, this issue is the prerogative of «Ukrainian partners.»
Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine on 24 February. President Vladimir Putin called its goal «the protection of people who have been subjected to bullying and genocide by the Kyiv regime for eight years.» He noted that the special operation was a forced measure, Russia «was left no chance to do otherwise, security risks were created such that it was impossible to react by other means.»
According to him, Russia has been trying for 30 years to agree with NATO on the principles of security in Europe, but in response it has faced either cynical deceit and lies, or attempts to pressure and blackmail, while the North Atlantic Alliance, despite Moscow’s protests, has steadily expands and approaches the borders of the Russian Federation.