US, EU 'delicately' discuss with Ukraine possible peace talks with Russia - NBC News

NBC News reports this, citing unnamed current and former U.S. officials

It is noted that some 'delicate' discussions took place in October at a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, which includes more than 50 countries. According to the media's interlocutors, the conversations touched on what Ukraine might have to give up in order to reach an agreement.

According to foreign officials, the discussions are a confirmation of the military dynamics on the territory of Ukraine and the political situation in the United States and Europe.

NBC's sources noted that the discussions began amid fears among the United States and European countries that the war had reached a deadlock and that they would not be able to continue to provide assistance to Ukraine. According to officials, the administration of US President Joe Biden is also concerned that 'Ukraine is running out of forces, while Russia has a seemingly endless supply'.

According to officials, the U.S. government is concerned about how much less public attention the war in Ukraine has received since the war between Israel and Hamas began. Officials fear that this change could make it more difficult for Kyiv to obtain additional aid. 

Some U.S. military officials have privately begun using the term 'stalemate' to describe the current battle in Ukraine, and some say it may come down to which side can sustain military forces the longest. 

Officials also said that Ukraine will likely have until the end of the year or so before more urgent discussions about peace talks begin. U.S. officials have shared their thoughts on such a timeline with European allies, the channel noted.

Biden has asked Congress to authorize additional funding for Ukraine, but so far this attempt has failed due to the resistance of some Republicans in Congress. In its latest request, the White House has linked aid to Ukraine and Israel. This has support among some Republicans in Congress, but other GOP lawmakers have said they will only vote for an aid package for Israel alone.

Before the Israel-Hamas war broke out, White House officials publicly voiced optimism that additional funding for Ukraine would be passed by Congress by the end of this year, while privately acknowledging concerns about how difficult that might be. 

At the same time, two U.S. officials said, the Biden administration has shown no indication that Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to negotiate with Ukraine. Western officials say Putin still believes he can "wait out the West" or continue to fight until the U.S. and its allies lose domestic support for Ukraine or the struggle to supply Kyiv with weapons and ammunition becomes too expensive. 

• The day before, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba assured that Ukraine was not conducting any secret negotiations with Russia.