In Brussels Whitaker said both Kyiv and Moscow are not yet ready for identical peace conditions, signaling uncertain prospects ahead of the Ankara NATO summit.
The United States’ Permanent Representative to NATO, Matthew Vitaker, said there are currently no signs that Ukraine and Russia are prepared to agree to equal terms of peace. The remark came on July 1 in Brussels, according to a correspondent for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
In his remarks, the diplomat noted:
As our president has already said, for tango two are needed. At the moment, it does not seem that both sides are ready to agree to the same deal. We will continue to work, continue negotiations. But for now we have not yet reached this point
– Matthew Vitaker
The U.S. ambassador to NATO signaled forthcoming announcements by allied countries in support of Ukraine during the NATO summit in Ankara, July 7–8, but did not disclose details to avoid pre-empting official statements.
You can expect long-term and durable commitments to support Ukraine. They will help Ukraine to continue, sustain its efforts, and at the same time give Russia a clear signal that this war must end… We want to strike a peace agreement
– Matthew Vitaker
Among the key initiatives is the PURL program, under which allies procure American weapons for Ukraine in the United States.
Under this program, deliveries totaling more than six billion dollars have already been made, and we are continuing its implementation. I believe this is a real success story. At the same time, we must develop the defense-industrial base… And this is not only about the European defense industry. The United States must also produce more and do more
– Matthew Vitaker
Earlier, President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that he would lead the Ukrainian delegation to the NATO summit in Ankara. According to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty sources at NATO headquarters, the foreign and defense ministers Andriy Sibiga and Mykhailo Fedorov will also travel to Ankara.
The latest peace talks between Ukraine and Russia mediated by the United States took place in February. Due to the worsening situation in the Middle East, the trilateral talks were postponed for an indefinite period.
Recently, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that ending the United States’ conflict with Iran would allow Washington to focus on resolving the Russian-Ukrainian war. He also noted that Russia should strike a deal with Ukraine after a “very good” meeting with President Zelensky on the margins of the G7 summit, which elicited cautious optimism among G7 leaders about the prospects for a peace agreement.
In contrast, the Kremlin said that the latest Ukrainian strikes on Russia do not bring the personal contacts between Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky closer. Zelensky emphasized his desire to end the war by winter through diplomacy and pressure on Russia.
In sum, against a backdrop of shifting diplomatic pressure and the dynamics of negotiations, prospects for a peaceful settlement remain uncertain, but Washington continues to stress the need for long-term commitments and strengthening allies’ defensive capabilities.