Efforts to de-escalate: Biden adviser held secret talks with Russians

The relationship between the US and Russia has never been so close to freezing since the Cold War as it is now.

Efforts to de-escalate: Biden adviser held secret talks with Russians

The relationship between the US and Russia has never been so close to freezing since the Cold War as it is now. But the nuclear powers are reportedly staying in touch behind the scenes even during this time.

According to a newspaper report, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan is trying to de-escalate nuclear tensions in the Ukraine war. The Wall Street Journal writes that Sullivan has held confidential talks in recent months with Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov and Secretary of the Russian Security Council Nikolai Patrushev that have not been publicly disclosed.

The talks were not officially denied. A spokeswoman for the National Security Council said: "People say many things". According to the report, Sullivan's talks were about avoiding further escalation and keeping channels of communication open.

The talks took place as the government in Moscow escalated its nuclear rhetoric, repeatedly accusing Ukraine of planning to use a radioactive "dirty bomb" without solid evidence. Ukraine has repeatedly stated that it does not intend to use such a bomb. In return, the government in Kyiv accused Russia of having such plans of its own, in order to then blame Ukraine for the use of these weapons, which are banned worldwide.

The Kremlin declined to comment on a Wall Street Journal report. Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov only explains that Russia remains open to talks. However, negotiations cannot be negotiated with the Ukrainian government because Kyiv refuses to hold talks with Moscow.

Most recently, the United States had also asked the Ukrainian government to show a certain willingness to negotiate. Ukraine should give up its public refusal to participate in peace talks with President Putin, the Washington Post reported, citing people familiar with the talks.

According to the newspaper, the urging of US officials is not aimed at bringing Ukraine to the negotiating table, but rather a calculated attempt to secure the support of countries whose citizens fear a war lasting many years for Kyiv. "Ukraine fatigue is a real thing for some of our partners," the Washington Post quoted a US official familiar with the matter as saying.