Russia-Ukraine war at a glance: what we know on day 609
GuardianNov 05, 2023
The Facts
Officials from the US and the EU have reportedly approached the Ukrainian government in order to raise the subject of possible peace negotiations with Russia, according to one current and one former US official who spoke to NBC News.
The sources told the publication that the topic was raised at last month's meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group — a regular summit of more than 50 nations that provide Ukraine with weapons and support. The talks, described as delicate, reportedly included broad outlines of what Ukraine might need to give up in order to reach a peace deal; it follows concerns from officials that the war has reached a stalemate and that Ukraine is running out of forces.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
While the West stands ready to support Ukraine, the front lines have not shifted in months and there are concerns about how many more troops the country can field for battle. Nothing is decided, and it's Ukraine's decision, but perhaps now is the right time to start thinking about how the war can be brought to a close.
Pro-Ukraine narrative
As Ukraine has made clear many times, it will not negotiate with terrorists who are illegally occupying the country's territory. Once Russia withdraws all its troops from Ukraine, only then can there be talk of diplomacy.
Pro-Russia narrative
As Russia has reiterated time and again, Moscow stands ready to have meaningful discussions with Ukraine and its Western allies to bring the war to a close. However, as Russia has stipulated, this peace is dependent on Ukraine not aligning with NATO.
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