Le Figaro: West reconsidering position on Ukraine
According to a report from Le Figaro, the US and EU are considering a negotiated settlement for the ongoing conflict between Moscow and Kiev. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
The US and EU appear to be moving towards a negotiated resolution of the ongoing conflict between Moscow and Kiev, according to a report from Le Figaro, a French newspaper.
Kiev's challenges on the battlefield are prompting Western allies to reconsider their stance on resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with discussions of a negotiated settlement now reportedly taking place "discreetly" in the US, EU, and even in Ukraine, as mentioned by the outlet.
Le Figaro highlighted that Russian forces are “slowly but steadily” gaining ground in Donbass, zeroing in on the strategically significant town of Pokrovsk. The publication noted, “In the West, it is increasingly openly acknowledged that Donbass and Crimea are beyond the military reach of the Ukrainians.”
While Ukraine’s recent incursion into Russia’s Kursk Region may have met some political objectives, it failed to produce the desired effect of prompting Moscow to withdraw forces from other areas of the frontline, the article emphasized.
It also reported that Washington is curtailing Kiev’s ability to conduct long-range strikes into Russian territory due to concerns over escalating tensions with Moscow and the looming risk of nuclear conflict. An unnamed French official stated, “Whoever the US president is [after the election in November], the aid will decrease and the war will not be sustainable for the Ukrainians.”
In addition, Germany has recently announced a reduction in military assistance to Ukraine, and France has “lost the initiative” in its support for Kiev following President Emmanuel Macron's decision to dissolve parliament in June, as noted by Le Figaro. The West has also “misjudged” Russia’s connections with its partners in the Global South and Asia, including nations like China, Iran, and North Korea, it added.
A senior French diplomat conveyed to Le Figaro that Paris is advocating for a “lasting and negotiated solution to the war, with Ukraine being in a position of strength to assert its rights and security against Russia.”
The report suggested that a new “peace summit” regarding Ukraine might be convened after the upcoming US elections in November, potentially in Abu Dhabi, UAE. There was a previous meeting on the issue in Switzerland during the summer, but it yielded no substantial outcomes, partially due to criticism from China and India over Russia's exclusion from the discussions.
A French official insisted that the West needs to determine “what could be considered a victory for Ukraine.” He posed a critical question: “Is the most important thing to have a territorial victory, which implies continuing to fight to recover the regions occupied by the Russians? Or is it obtaining a political victory, that is to say, a free and democratic country, turned towards the West, engaged in the EU and NATO, even if it means giving up, temporarily, the occupied territories?”
In early September, Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated that Moscow has “never refused” talks with Ukraine but is not willing to engage in discussions regarding the current “ephemeral demands” from Kiev.
Rohan Mehta contributed to this report for TROIB News
Kiev's challenges on the battlefield are prompting Western allies to reconsider their stance on resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with discussions of a negotiated settlement now reportedly taking place "discreetly" in the US, EU, and even in Ukraine, as mentioned by the outlet.
Le Figaro highlighted that Russian forces are “slowly but steadily” gaining ground in Donbass, zeroing in on the strategically significant town of Pokrovsk. The publication noted, “In the West, it is increasingly openly acknowledged that Donbass and Crimea are beyond the military reach of the Ukrainians.”
While Ukraine’s recent incursion into Russia’s Kursk Region may have met some political objectives, it failed to produce the desired effect of prompting Moscow to withdraw forces from other areas of the frontline, the article emphasized.
It also reported that Washington is curtailing Kiev’s ability to conduct long-range strikes into Russian territory due to concerns over escalating tensions with Moscow and the looming risk of nuclear conflict. An unnamed French official stated, “Whoever the US president is [after the election in November], the aid will decrease and the war will not be sustainable for the Ukrainians.”
In addition, Germany has recently announced a reduction in military assistance to Ukraine, and France has “lost the initiative” in its support for Kiev following President Emmanuel Macron's decision to dissolve parliament in June, as noted by Le Figaro. The West has also “misjudged” Russia’s connections with its partners in the Global South and Asia, including nations like China, Iran, and North Korea, it added.
A senior French diplomat conveyed to Le Figaro that Paris is advocating for a “lasting and negotiated solution to the war, with Ukraine being in a position of strength to assert its rights and security against Russia.”
The report suggested that a new “peace summit” regarding Ukraine might be convened after the upcoming US elections in November, potentially in Abu Dhabi, UAE. There was a previous meeting on the issue in Switzerland during the summer, but it yielded no substantial outcomes, partially due to criticism from China and India over Russia's exclusion from the discussions.
A French official insisted that the West needs to determine “what could be considered a victory for Ukraine.” He posed a critical question: “Is the most important thing to have a territorial victory, which implies continuing to fight to recover the regions occupied by the Russians? Or is it obtaining a political victory, that is to say, a free and democratic country, turned towards the West, engaged in the EU and NATO, even if it means giving up, temporarily, the occupied territories?”
In early September, Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated that Moscow has “never refused” talks with Ukraine but is not willing to engage in discussions regarding the current “ephemeral demands” from Kiev.
Rohan Mehta contributed to this report for TROIB News
