Did Biden make a mistake by not negotiating with Putin?

(Dan Tri) - US President-elect Donald Trump's special envoy to Ukraine pointed out President Joe Biden's mistake in not negotiating with the Russian leader.

US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin (Photo: Getty).

"I think the biggest mistake President Biden has made is he has never had any negotiations with Putin. I mean, he hasn't spoken to Putin in over two years," Keith Kellogg, US President-elect Donald Trump's special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, said on January 8.

"President Biden has spoken to both adversaries and allies, and he knows that it's a difficult thing, but he really needs to understand that he has to speak to everyone," Trump's special envoy stressed.

Earlier, at a press conference after the NATO summit in Washington last July, Mr. Biden said he "had no reason to talk to Mr. Putin." According to the White House owner, Mr. Putin "showed no signs of being ready to change his attitude."

At a press conference on January 7, President-elect Trump said that it was President Biden's support for Ukraine's desire to join NATO that caused the conflict with Russia to break out.

Mr Trump said he sympathised with Moscow's position that Ukraine should not be part of NATO, and regretted not meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin before taking office.

Special envoy Kellogg said he aims to find a solution to the Russia-Ukraine war within Trump's first 100 days in office.

Mr. Kellogg stressed that both he and the President-elect are aware that they have very little time to find a solution to the Ukraine conflict.

Mr Kellogg believes Mr Trump will be able to propose a solution acceptable to both Russia and Ukraine "in the near future".

Mr. Kellogg had previously planned to visit both Russia and Ukraine to hear the views of both sides. The visit to Kiev was scheduled for January, but was postponed.

Mr Kellogg's comments came after President-elect Donald Trump said the Russia-Ukraine war would end within six months. "I hope it takes six months," Mr Trump said.

During the election campaign, Mr. Trump repeatedly asserted that he could end the conflict in Ukraine within 24 hours of taking office. His team has also gradually revealed plans to resolve the conflict.

Special Envoy Kellogg in April 2024 proposed a plan calling for an “America First” approach to the Russia-Ukraine war. According to him, the US should participate in a negotiation to help the parties reach a ceasefire agreement in Ukraine.

The plan proposes that the US continue to provide military aid to help Ukraine defend itself. However, future US military aid would be contingent on Ukraine entering into peace talks with Russia.

The plan also suggests that NATO leaders should propose postponing Ukraine's ambitions to join the alliance to persuade Russia to join peace talks.

Meanwhile, US Vice President-elect JD Vance revealed in September 2024 that Mr. Trump will begin negotiations with Russian, Ukrainian and European leaders.

Mr Vance’s plan suggests Ukraine would cede some of the territories that Russia controls in part, including Lugansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhia. European countries could deploy peacekeepers to the Russia-Ukraine demilitarized zone, but the US would not participate in that mission.

However, neither Moscow nor Kiev supported the plan. Russia said that the proposal to resolve the Ukraine conflict from the team of US President-elect Donald Trump was vague and unattractive to Moscow.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-gioi/ong-biden-mac-sai-lam-khi-khong-dam-phan-voi-ong-putin-20250109122408176.htm