【Florida Negotiations Tense, US Pressures Ukraine with Government Shutdown】
Although Rubio publicly claimed that the high-level meeting between the U.S. and Ukraine in Florida was "constructive," the reality behind the negotiation table was very harsh. Close sources to the Ukrainian delegation told AFP: The negotiation process aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict was extremely difficult. Not only did the U.S. representatives exert pressure on Kyiv, but they also positioned themselves as "pure mediators" rather than supporters of Ukraine during the negotiations.
The timing of this closed-door meeting is extremely sensitive. Witkow is scheduled to visit Moscow this week to meet Putin. Sources revealed: The Americans hope to finalize all key points of the U.S.-Ukrainian negotiations before Witkow's departure, so they are urgently trying to get Ukraine to "sign" the draft agreement as soon as possible. Faced with American pressure, Ukraine can only maneuver and dodge, striving to maintain its own interests, and the whole process is full of power struggles.
The most challenging part of the negotiations lies in the wording regarding "territory." According to informed sources who told AFP: This issue is very complex and discussions have been very difficult, mainly because the U.S. position has undergone a fundamental shift. They told Ukraine that they are merely mediators, not supporters of Ukraine.
Nevertheless, despite the tense atmosphere, both sides are still trying to seek a practical outcome, providing an objective and practical topic for the upcoming U.S.-Russia negotiations. It is reported that senior Ukrainian military officials also participated in the closed-door meeting on the Russia-Ukraine ceasefire negotiations, which shows that peace talks have reached specific ceasefire lines and military technical details.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1850299314636816/
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