US national security adviser Jack Sullivan has confirmed that despite the war in Ukraine, lines of communication between Washington and Moscow remain open.
Speaking in New York, Mr Sullivan said it was “in the interests” of the US to maintain contact with the Kremlin.
But he insisted that authorities “have a clear view of who we are dealing with”.
It comes as the White House has refused to deny reports that Mr Sullivan is leading talks with Russia to defuse nuclear tensions in Ukraine.
The Wall Street Journal reports that Mr. Sullivan has held secret talks with his Russian counterpart, Security Council Secretary Nikolai Petroshev, and Yuri Ushakov, the Kremlin’s senior foreign policy aide, over the past several months.
Senior officials told that the men had discussed ways to avoid the risk of a nuclear escalation in the war in Ukraine, but were not involved in any discussions about ways to end the conflict.
Last month Mr Sullivan said any use of nuclear weapons would have “catastrophic consequences for Russia”. He told that senior officials had “outlined” the scope of a possible US response in private discussions with Russian officials.
US National Security Council spokesman Adrian Watson declined to confirm the news, telling the newspaper that “people claim many things”, while Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov accused Western newspapers of publishing “numerous hoaxes”. Accused of
But White House press secretary Karen Jean-Pierre said Monday that the United States reserves the right to negotiate with Russia.
And Mr. Sullivan — who is said to be one of US President Joe Biden’s most senior advisers still pushing for talks with Russia — said maintaining contact with Moscow ” It is in the interest of every country that is affected by this conflict”.
Last week, The Washington Post reported that senior U.S. officials were urging Kyiv to signal an openness to dialogue with Russia and to discuss an end to the war while President Vladimir Putin remains in power. Abandon your public denial.
But Mr. Sullivan, speaking at a public event in New York, said the Biden administration had a “responsibility to pursue accountability” and pledged to work with international partners to “serious and Those guilty of heinous war crimes should be held accountable for what they have done.”
“I was just in Kyiv on Friday. And I had the opportunity to meet with President [Volodymyr] Zelensky and his counterpart Andrei Yermak, along with the military leadership, and also to get a briefing on the level of casualties and destruction. There’s been an outbreak. Putin’s war on this country,” Mr. Sullivan said.
Concerns have grown in recent months that Russia may resort to using nuclear weapons to defend four regions of eastern and southern Ukraine that it illegally annexed.
Meanwhile, Ukraine has invoked its wartime martial law to seize control of the assets of five strategically important companies.
Some of the companies – including two energy companies and companies that make engines, vehicles and transformers – are linked to oligarch Vyacheslav Bohslaev, who was arrested on suspicion of collaborating with Russia.
President Zelensky said the move would help Ukraine’s defense sector meet the needs of the army, which is currently engaged in counter-operations in southern and eastern Ukraine.
