Biden Casts Doubt On Russia-Ukraine Optimism

Biden told reporters Tuesday afternoon he won’t “read anything into” Russia’s suggestions of de-escalation in Ukraine until he sees evidence Russia will “follow through on what they are suggesting.”

The U.S. has seen no indication negotiations between Russia and Ukraine are “moving forward in an effective way” and there are no “signs of real seriousness” from Russia that it’s pursuing peace in Ukraine, Secretary of State Blinken said during a press conference in Morocco.

Earlier Tuesday, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin said Russia will “fundamentally” reduce military activity in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv and the northern Ukrainian city of Chernihiv and both sides shared progress toward holding a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Blinken said the announced pullbacks in Kyiv and Chernihiv may be intended to “deflect and deceive” from Russia’s true intentions, and Medinsky seemed to echo support Blinken’s sentiments, clarifying he did do not mean a ceasefire is imminent in a Tuesday interview with Russian state media.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Tuesday the U.S. has observed some Russian troop movements in Ukraine, but it is a “repositioning, not a real withdrawal” of forces.