Kennedy Jr. said weakening Russia would harm the United States

If Russia weakens, the United States will be less protected. About it stated presidential candidate Robert Kennedy Jr. in an interview with the Responsible Statecraft (RS) portal.

Kennedy Jr. answered affirmatively to the question whether the possible start of negotiations to resolve the conflict in Ukraine is in the national interests of the United States. According to him, the opinion that the fighting in Ukraine “serves national interests by weakening Russia” is erroneous.

“Firstly, this does not weaken Russia. Second, a weak and unstable Russia will make us much less secure, not more secure. The United States and the world will be better off if Russia understands that we are not going to destroy it,” he said.

RS asked other US presidential candidates a similar question. Marianne Williamson of the Democratic Party said that “the United States should negotiate with Russia and Ukraine.” Independent candidate Cornel West also expressed the opinion that the conflict in Ukraine cannot be resolved militarily, and promised that if he wins the elections, he will “leave Ukraine no choice” but to come to the negotiating table.

November 8, President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky statedthat Kyiv intends to continue hostilities against Russian troops, despite difficulties with the counteroffensive and the fact that the attention of Western leaders is focused on the conflict in the Middle East. He promises to “show results this year.”

In the Kremlin remindedthat the previous promises of the Ukrainian authorities did not come true. Press Secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov said that it is time for the Ukrainian side to understand that it will not be able to defeat Russia on the battlefield. Only after this can the prerequisites arise for resolving the situation through “political and diplomatic means.” Now there are no such prerequisites, and therefore Russia continues the special operation, he added.

In February and March 2022, Russia and Ukraine held negotiations several times. Three meetings took place in Belarus, the fourth in Istanbul. Then Kyiv pulled out of the negotiations and the process was frozen. Russian authorities claimed that Western countries contributed to this.

After this, Moscow repeatedly emphasized its readiness for negotiations with Kiev. This process is hampered by a decree signed by Zelensky in October 2022 on the refusal to negotiate with Russia while Vladimir Putin is its president, the Kremlin explained.