US Warns UN: 'Deal On Offer Now Is Russia's Best Possible Outcome'
Update(1655ET): A warning from the US at the United Nations in New York on Thursday:
‘Deal on offer now is Russia’s best possible outcome’ – US at UN Security Council
Some of the lines from Acting US Alternate Representative to the UN John Kelley:
"If Russia makes the wrong decision to continue this catastrophic war, the United States will have to consider stepping back from our negotiation efforts to end this conflict. To be clear, in doing so, we would not be “abandoning” our principles or our friends. Rather, we would be recognizing Russia’s refusal to work with us toward a desirable outcome."
"As President Trump has made clear, we want to work with Russia, including on this peace initiative and an economic package. There is no military solution to this conflict. The deal on offer now is Russia’s best possible outcome. President Putin should take the deal."
He also made clear that more sanctions are on the table as an option. "Additional sanctions on Russia are still on the table. President Trump has emphasized from the beginning that this war was a strategic mistake and should never have happened; time is not on the side of any who would prolong it," Kelly said.
Russia has been precisely ramping up its military response of late: "Russian forces have carried out precision strikes on a facility used by Ukrainian special operations forces, the Defense Ministry in Moscow announced Thursday.
'Command HQs' are now clearly being targeted in Ukraine, at a moment Germany has said it has lifted all restrictions on long-range weapons for Kiev.
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