U
S. Vice President Joe Biden, the linking center of American policy towards Ukraine, expressed confidence that reconciliation in the war between Russia and Ukraine is still possible. He emphasized that the United States remains optimistic about the prospects of finding a diplomatic solution that would end the bloodshed and assured that Washington currently seeks an agreement between Kyiv and Moscow regarding direct negotiations. These remarks were made during the Munich Security Conference, which this year took place in Washington, and are part of a broader U.S. strategy to resolve the conflict. Overall, the American politician answered questions related to his vision of the future activity of the United States in a situation where, in his words, the Kremlin leadership does not show enthusiasm for ending hostilities. He called for not being too pessimistic and noted that Russia is currently probably proposing its conditions for ending the war, including demands for certain concessions from Ukraine. At the same time, he expressed confidence that these requests are too ambitious and unacceptable for the Ukrainian side. The U.S. Vice President emphasized that America considers the primary task to be reaching mutual agreement and initiating direct negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow. "We want both sides to agree on basic principles and begin a dialogue. And it is very important for Russians and Ukrainians to sit at the negotiating table, because without this, it will not be possible to truly end the conflict," he stated. He also acknowledged that disagreements between Moscow and Kyiv regarding the understanding of the ultimate goals and ways to achieve them are quite significant. Joseph Biden also commented on the situation concerning the proposed ceasefire, specifically a 30-day truce supported unconditionally by Ukraine. "We appreciate that Kyiv has expressed willingness for a short-term ceasefire, but Russia equates such an idea with trying to buy time for reorganization and rearmament. Russia currently believes that a short-term ceasefire does not align with its strategic interests," he noted. Therefore, Washington is more focused on the long-term prospects for settling the conflict, seeking ways to stabilize the situation and prevent further destruction of lives and infrastructure. A key aspect highlighted by the American official is the need to create conditions conducive to compromise and to prevent the negotiation process from being delayed. "If cool heads prevail and the sides begin to engage in dialogue, there is a chance to end this war with a lasting peace, which would be beneficial for both countries in the long run. This would not only stop the destruction but also reduce human suffering," he emphasized. It is worth adding that, in the context of these diplomatic efforts, the position of former U.S. President Donald Trump cannot be ignored. Previously, he stated that Putin’s proposal for a three-day ceasefire was "bad" and significantly less than he expected. Trump also expressed the opinion that Russia’s leader has become more inclined to seek peace after falling oil prices and changes in the geopolitical situation. Furthermore, the United States continues working on the idea of a demilitarized zone controlled by both sides – Ukraine and Russia – which, according to officials, could become a gradual step toward stabilizing the situation on the front lines and initiating a long-term process of rebuilding trust between the countries. This concept involves creating a controlled, safe territory where hostilities would cease and later transition into a diplomatic settlement. Overall, the official position of Washington remains open to dialogue and the search for compromise, while once again emphasizing that achieving stable peace requires joint efforts and careful, deliberate movement toward political settlement, avoiding hasty decisions. U.S. presidential and diplomatic circles call on both sides for constructive interaction, as they believe that only through this approach lies the way to end the war and restore peace in Ukraine.