U.S. Rep. Sam Graves, R-Mo. 6th District, describes the talks toward a cease fire in the Ukrainian war to be “very delicate negotiations.” He told Missourinet affiliate KFEQ in St. Joseph that he is cautiously optimistic that discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin will bear fruit.
“I can’t predict how it’s going to come out. I know the president is pushing very hard and is making some great strides in terms of trying to get both sides to compromise, I guess you might say,” Graves said. “Is (Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelenskyy going to have to give up some territory, cede that to Russia? You know, that’s a possibility. Is Russia going to back out of what they have taken?”
Graves is also uncertain whether Putin is willing to concede territory Putin has taken since attacking Ukraine three years ago, though he said the war hasn’t gone the way Russia envisioned.
“Putin went into this thing thinking that it was going to be over within a week,” he said. “He has lost a tremendous amount of resources in this process. He’s lost 23 ships in the Black Sea.”
The United States is leading discussions in Saudi Arabia about the possibility of a cease fire. Graves added that he worries about a broadening of the conflict and of Putin’s ultimate aim.
“I would rather fight him in Ukraine and let the Ukrainians prosecute the war rather than the United States having to get into it if he moves into the Balkans,” he said.
Finally, Graves said if Russia moves into Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, or Poland, the U.S. and NATO will enter the war.
Brent Martin, of KFEQ Radio, contributed this report.
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