Huge Fissure: U.S. Department Of State Says “Regime Change” In Russian Federation Not Goal Of The Government Of Ukraine. Someone Forgot To Tell Kyiv.
Huge Fissure: U.S. Department Of State Says, “Regime Change” In Russian Federation Is Not The Goal Of The Government Of Ukraine. Someone Forgot To Tell Kyiv.
“But do you think there can be a diplomatic solution without regime change in Russia? Regime change is not our goal. It is not the goal of our Ukrainian partners.” Ned Price, Spokesperson, United States Department of State.
“He (Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation) does not know what dignity and honesty are. Therefore, we are ready for a dialogue with Russia, but with another president of Russia.” Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine.
“There will be no negotiations with Russia while Putin is the president. We are moving forward. To victory.” Andriy Yermak, Chief of Staff to President Zelensky.
“We will talk with the next leader,” Mykhailo Podalyak, Advisor to President Zelensky.
“For God’s sake, this man cannot remain in power.” Joseph Biden, President of the United States.
Mr. Price’s statement suggests the “trick-or-treat” component of the annual 31 October event of Halloween. The comments yesterday by Mr. Price strain credibility.
The issue of regime change in any country has been nuanced with the choice of options: changing the behavior of individuals in the regime or changing the individuals in the regime.
Successive United States presidential administrations have expressed support for, in public and in private, for the citizens of countries to make changes to their governments- for example, Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, People’s Republic of China, Republic of Belarus, Islamic Republic of Iran, Republic of Chile, Republic of Cuba, Republic of Iraq, Republic of Venezuela, Russian Federation, and United Kingdom. Covertly, the United States government has supported consequently efforts to extract and replace heads of state and heads of government within whom it believes as not serving the interests of the United States government.
Successive administrations in other countries have taken overt and covert efforts to influence leadership and electorate in the United States whether in totality or issue related. For example, People’s Republic of China, Russian Federation, State of Israel, and Ukraine, among others.
Representatives of the United States Department of State and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine might find useful a conversation. The Biden-Harris Administration (2021- ) messaging tends to focus upon its “straight talk” and “saying what it means” and “here’s the deal…”
The government of Ukraine wants regime change in the Russian Federation. Even if the United States Department of State declines to concur, at minimum Mr. Price should acknowledge there is meaningful distance between the perspectives of Kyiv and Washington.
United States Department of State
Washington DC
7 November 2022
Ned Price, Department Spokesperson
Excerpts:
So, we have signaled both in our messaging, in our words, but also in our actions, including the support to Ukraine, that we believe deeply in the necessity of dialogue and diplomacy. Unfortunately, the Russians have signaled – certainly in their actions – that, at the moment, they are focused on escalation. They are not focused on de-escalation. They are even less so focused on dialogue and genuine diplomacy. It’s our goal to help the Ukrainians shift that calculus.
QUESTION: And just one follow-up. There was a line from President Zelenskyy last month that got some pick-up after Washington Post reporting over the weekend where he said, “We are ready for…dialogue with Russia, but with another president of Russia.” What is the Biden administration’s response to that comment? Do you agree with that sentiment?
MR PRICE: So, you’re asking about the modalities of a negotiation, and obviously what – the details of what a negotiation between Russia and Ukraine would look like, that will have to be worked out between Russia and Ukraine. The Ukrainians will determine who their representatives will be, if and when a negotiating table develops. They will determine those individuals they’re willing to speak with, so we’re not going to weigh in on that. But I think what is much more important is what we’ve heard repeatedly now from President Zelenskyy, his fervent belief – something he has repeated in – even in recent days – that this war will be ended through dialogue and diplomacy.
QUESTION: But do you think there can be a diplomatic solution without regime change in Russia?
MR PRICE: Regime change is not our goal. It is not the goal of our Ukrainian partners. Our goal is to bring an end to President Putin’s war. It is to bring an end to it, to help the Ukrainians bring an end to it with a just peace, a just peace that reflects the principles of the UN Charter in terms of sovereignty, in terms of territorial integrity, in terms of a Ukraine that is at peace, that is free, that is stable, that’s economically viable, and that’s able to defend itself going forward.
QUESTION: Just so we are on same page here, given the report that was just mentioned of the Post, can you explicitly say that nothing that the U.S. Government has done last week or weekend that would suggest that you have been pressuring, advising, recommending Ukrainians talk to the war criminal Putin?
MR PRICE: We’re not pressuring our Ukrainian partners. Our Ukrainian partners don’t need any pressure to incentivize them to see this war come to an end. No one has suffered more than the Ukrainian people. No one wants to see this war end more than the Ukrainian people and the Ukrainian Government. So, it is neither our place for us to pressure the Ukrainians, nor would we need to do such a thing. They have every incentive. It is the Russians that are sending a very different signal.