According to journalists, the Biden administration may encourage Kiev to concede on police, health and education issues.
After online talks between the U.S. president and Russia, the Biden administration has decided to take on a larger role in diplomacy. Ukraine may be under pressure to make certain concessions in the Donbass. This is reported by AP News sources.
Any talks on a peaceful solution to the West-East rivalry would reportedly be a minefield for President Joe Biden. But administration officials have suggested that the U.S. will pressure Ukraine to formally give some autonomy to the ORDLO.
The main challenge for Biden, according to the publication, will be to encourage Kiev to take some measures. However, they should not give the impression that Ukraine is making concessions to Putin. Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Steven Pifer says the concessions could include control of health care, police and education in the ORDLO.
"But I don't see Washington pushing the Ukrainians to take steps that would compromise their sovereignty or the national government's ability to make decisions," Pifer concluded.
As a reminder, according to Biden, the U.S. will not send its troops to Ukraine in case of a Russian invasion. The new U.S. defense budget provides $300 million to Ukraine, as well as $4 billion for protection in case of Russian invasion.
After the talks, Joe Biden said he warned Vladimir Putin of serious economic consequences if Russia decided to invade Ukraine.
