Not allow escalation: White House held secret negotiations with Putin's surroundings - wsj

Journalists say that the White House is trying to reduce the risk of wider conflict through Ukraine and warns Moscow against the use of nuclear or other weapons of mass destruction. US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan has had confidential conversations with high -ranking assistants of Russian President Vladimir Putin in recent months to prevent escalation in Ukraine and warn Moscow from nuclear weapons. About it reports the American edition of The Wall Street Journal.

Journalists, citing US officials, write that President Joe Baiden's chief adviser to national security supported contact with Putin's adviser on foreign policy Yuri Ushakov and spoke with the Russian National Security Advisor Mykola Patrushev. The material emphasizes that the White House negotiated with the Kremlin not to resolve the situation in Ukraine, but to prevent the risk of escalation and keep open communication channels.

At the same time, the White House has not publicly confirmed Sullivan's contacts with high -ranking Russian officials. Answering the question whether Baiden's secret negotiations with Ushakov and Patrushev held a Preskretar of the US National Security Council Adrienn Watson said, "People say a lot," and refused further comments.

The observers also noted that the White House secret negotiations with the Kremlin are conducted against the background of reducing traditional diplomatic contacts between the two countries. Despite harsh sanctions in response to the invasion of the Russian Federation to Ukraine, Washington stated the need to maintain a certain level of contact with Moscow for national security. Former American officials also speak of the correctness of this position.

In their view, the White House is useful to maintain contact with the Kremlin, since Russian-American relations have been at the lowest point since the end of the Cold War. "I think it is always important, especially for nuclear weapons, to maintain open communication channels to understand what each party thinks, and to avoid the possibility of accidental confrontation or war," Ivo Daalder said who worked US Ambassador to NATO during the Obama administration.

As for Sullivan, he is considered a supporter of contact with Russia in the White House. He was rumored, he took a leading role in coordination of Biden's policies and plans in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. At the same time, Sullivan participates in diplomatic dialogue with the Ukrainian side. Thus, on November 4, Baiden's adviser suddenly flew to Kiev for negotiations with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov.