LOS ANGELES.–Russian President Vladimir Putin, 71, made peace overtures in back channel diplomacy for a ceasefire in Ukraine, apparently rejected by the Biden White House. Putin offered last year to freeze the conflict with a ceasefire to the current lines, something viewed as unacceptable to 45-year-old Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Instead of working with Russia to end the nearly two-year bloody conflict, leaving Ukraine’s infrastructure in ruins and economy bankrupt, Biden and Zelensky rejected Putin’s overture. Putin corroborated in his two-hour interview with Tucker Carlson last week that back channel efforts were underway on issues related to Ukraine and release of U.S. citizens held in Russian jails. U.S. press was blindsided by any back channel attempts by the U.S. and Russia to resolve the Ukraine War by working on a ceasefire and peace talks.
Biden officials involved in the back channel ceasefire talks gave no indication of any peace talks ongoing, instead deferring to Zelensky who insists on unrealistic conditions for ceasefire and peace talks, demanding that Putin pull all Russian soldiers from Ukraine and pay war reparations. “The contacts with the Americans came to nothing,” said a senior Russia source with knowledge of the back channel talks in 2023 and early 2024. Another anonymous Russian source said Americans refused any ceasefire talks unless Zelensky was involved in the talks, a deal breaker for Moscow. “Everything fell apart with the Americans,” said a third confidential source, saying the Americans did not want to pressure Ukraine. Biden has been pressuring Congress for months for $60 billion in more war funding, mentioning nothing about any back channel ceasefire talks.
Biden says nothing about any back channel ceasefire talks because he most likely can recall any but that reflects unfavorably on recent information from the Special Counsel on his memory and cognitive impairments. Biden and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) have been saying they need $60 billion in military aid to Ukraine defeat the Russian Federation and preserve democracy. Bi-partisan members of Congress don’t question Biden and Schumer’s rubbish about preserving democracy in Ukraine or, more broadly, Europe. Biden and Zelensky have been selling the Ukraine war as promoting U.S. values and preserving European democracy. Putin made clear in his interview with Tucker Carlson he has no intent of grabbing more territory in Europe unless attacked by NATO. Biden and Zelensky insist Putin wants to reestablish the old Soviet Union.
Biden’s White House denies any back channel talks were going on about a Ukraine War ceasefire. But back channel talks went on while WNBA start Britney Griner was eventually swapped for “merchant of death” arms dealer Viktor Bout. So, despite White House denials, it’s clear that back channel talks go on, whether Bidien recalls or whether the White House continues a cover-up. Unofficial talks apparently went on in Istanbul in 2023, not something sanctioned by the White House or State Department. Another anonymous source said that Secretary of State Antony Blinken, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, CIA Director William Burns met on the prospects of working on back channel ceasefire talks. U.S. officials deny any “official” contacts but don’t deny “unofficial” contacts. Sullivan was to speak to Putin foreign policy adviser Uri Ushakov about any developments.
Ushakov was eventually told by Sullivan that he could not talk about a Ukraine ceasefire but deal with other issues of common ground, including any prisoner swaps. U.S. officials refuse to characterize or discuss any back channel talks between Ushakov and Sullivan, showing that something took place under the radar of the U.S. press. “Putin said: ‘I knew they wouldn’t do anything,’{“ said another anonymous Russian source. “They cut off the root of the contacts which had taken two months to create,” said the unnamed source. Putin was sincere about discussing a ceasefire but not on Zelensky’s terms, requiring a complete Russian withdrawal from Ukraine and payment of war reparations. Putin sent a message to Washington through his interview with Carlson that he was still interested in ceasefire and peace talks, if common ground can be found between Kiev and Moscow.
Biden’s not-so-secret talks between Sullivan and Ushakov prove that the White House did engage in back channel talks for a ceasefire. Biden tells his House and Senate negotiators that he wants to continue funding the Ukraine War to degrade the Russian military to give Ukraine a better negotiating advantage in eventual peace talks. “The Americans didn’t believe Putn was genuine abou a ceasefire . . . but he was and is—he is ready to discuss a ceasefire. But equally, Putin is also ready to fight on for as long as it takes—and Russia can fight for as long as it takes,” said a Russian source. White House officials have been duping Congress into believing the Ukraine War is about defeating the Russian Federation. Since that’s not going to happen anytime soon or ever, ceasefire and peace talks are the only way out of the conflict for Ukraine and the United States.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
