“You’re already seeing the bad weather in Ukraine slowing things down a little bit. It’s getting really muddy, which makes it difficult to do large-scale attacks,” U.S. Policy Undersecretary of Defense Colin Kahl said the newspaper.
Meanwhile, the conflict is expected to enter a new phase due to the enforced pause in troop movements, according to the report. The Russian military is focusing on attacks against Ukrainian infrastructure.
For its part, the Ukrainian forces, as stated Seth JonesVice President of the US Center for Strategic and International Studies, plans to continue subversive attacks against Russian lines.
A US official cited by the news outlet said it is important for Washington to take advantage of the winter pause to increase arms deliveries to Kiev.
This comes days after reports emerged that the Biden administration is “privately” encouraging Kiev to show a willingness to negotiate with Russia, The Washington Post reported, citing people familiar with the discussions.
Mediation started at the end of February this year after the start of the war in Ukraine. The last round of negotiations ended in Istanbul on March 29. The negotiations have since stalled despite the efforts of the UN.
According to the newspaper, the United States does not want Ukraine to start negotiations with Russia, but instead seeks to ensure that Kiev has the support of other countries. “Ukraine fatigue is a real issue for some of our partners,” one US official told The Washington Post.
Concerns are mounting in parts of Europe, Africa and Latin America as food and fuel prices rise amid Russia’s ongoing special operation in Ukraine.
Earlier in September, the President of Russia Vladimir Putin said Moscow remains open to talks with Kiev and called on Ukraine to end hostilities. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyin turn said that Kiev is ready for dialogue with Moscow, but only if another president comes to power in Russia.
The Kremlin replied that Moscow expects a change in the position of the current president of Ukraine or his successor.
HT
Source: ANI
Source: The Nordic Page