Jake Sullivan

They failed to destroy Ukraine. They failed to break NATO. And so now the question is, how do we drive to a just and sustainable peace that allows Ukraine to emerge as a free and independent, viable nation rooted in the West? I think that that opportunity is present.

They failed to destroy Ukraine. They failed to break NATO. And so now the question is, how do we drive to a just and sustainable peace that allows Ukraine to emerge as a free and independent, viable nation rooted in the West? I think that that opportunity is present.

And I think our job right now is to continue to supply Ukraine with the leverage they need to get a good deal at the negotiating table. That is what we're trying to do in our waning days before passing the baton to President Trump.

And I think our job right now is to continue to supply Ukraine with the leverage they need to get a good deal at the negotiating table. That is what we're trying to do in our waning days before passing the baton to President Trump.

Well, first, President Zelensky has said publicly that definitely this war has to end in diplomacy, and he recognizes that, and he accepts the basic American proposition that our job is to put them in the best possible position on the battlefield so they are in the best possible position at the negotiating table. in September, he came to Washington to see President Biden.

Well, first, President Zelensky has said publicly that definitely this war has to end in diplomacy, and he recognizes that, and he accepts the basic American proposition that our job is to put them in the best possible position on the battlefield so they are in the best possible position at the negotiating table. in September, he came to Washington to see President Biden.

And he brought with him what he called his victory plan. Now, that victory plan, in part, was a plan to put him in a position to be able to negotiate a just outcome to this war. So even before the election, the idea was that whoever won, whether it was President Trump or Vice President Harris, that there would be a turn into negotiations at some point

And he brought with him what he called his victory plan. Now, that victory plan, in part, was a plan to put him in a position to be able to negotiate a just outcome to this war. So even before the election, the idea was that whoever won, whether it was President Trump or Vice President Harris, that there would be a turn into negotiations at some point

such that Ukraine would have the necessary leverage to get the outcome that it needs. And that outcome has a critical element to it, which is sufficient guarantees for its security that if there is some kind of deal, Russia can't just wait a year and turn around and do it all over again. But it is fundamentally up to Ukraine to choose both ways.

such that Ukraine would have the necessary leverage to get the outcome that it needs. And that outcome has a critical element to it, which is sufficient guarantees for its security that if there is some kind of deal, Russia can't just wait a year and turn around and do it all over again. But it is fundamentally up to Ukraine to choose both ways.

when to engage the negotiation, and what the ultimate outcome of the negotiation will be. And, you know, I've heard the critics who say, why doesn't the United States just make Ukraine accept a deal? And my answer to that question is, this is Ukrainian land. These are Ukrainian lives.

when to engage the negotiation, and what the ultimate outcome of the negotiation will be. And, you know, I've heard the critics who say, why doesn't the United States just make Ukraine accept a deal? And my answer to that question is, this is Ukrainian land. These are Ukrainian lives.

It should be up to the democratically elected Ukrainian government to make its determination about whether to bring the war to an end or whether to continue it. So for me, the real issue is not, hey, Washington, why don't you just squeeze Zelensky till he gives up X amount of land? The real question is, how do we make sure

It should be up to the democratically elected Ukrainian government to make its determination about whether to bring the war to an end or whether to continue it. So for me, the real issue is not, hey, Washington, why don't you just squeeze Zelensky till he gives up X amount of land? The real question is, how do we make sure

that President Zelensky has sufficient leverage and is in a position to get to the negotiating table and do a deal.

that President Zelensky has sufficient leverage and is in a position to get to the negotiating table and do a deal.

Well, I think you made a really important leap in the analysis underpinning that question, and it's a leap I wouldn't make. You said, obviously, we have a say because we're giving weapons. And then you said, or implied, so we should go tell them to stop. And it's that leap I don't want to make. It's true. We could cut Ukraine off.

Well, I think you made a really important leap in the analysis underpinning that question, and it's a leap I wouldn't make. You said, obviously, we have a say because we're giving weapons. And then you said, or implied, so we should go tell them to stop. And it's that leap I don't want to make. It's true. We could cut Ukraine off.

We could say you get nothing more unless you accept that Russia gets X percent of your territory. That is an option available to us. So empirically, I agree with you on that analytical point. But on the prescriptive point, should we do that? I do not agree. I don't think that the United States should tell Ukraine, you just have to give up. We're done unless you give up.

We could say you get nothing more unless you accept that Russia gets X percent of your territory. That is an option available to us. So empirically, I agree with you on that analytical point. But on the prescriptive point, should we do that? I do not agree. I don't think that the United States should tell Ukraine, you just have to give up. We're done unless you give up.