Secretary of State: Ukraine negotiations narrowed but 'elusive'; U.S. must keep talking to China

During a brief question period at the Munich Security Conference, the Moderator asked the U.S. Secretary of State for an assessment of prospects to end the war in Ukraine. The Secretary said the set of issues to be resolved has narrowed ‘‘to the hardest questions to answer’’ and that it remains unclear whether Russia is serious about ending the war under terms acceptable to Ukraine.

He said allied responses continue: additional sanctions on Russian oil, diplomatic engagement with other major buyers (he cited conversations with India and said he had secured India's commitment to stop buying additional Russian oil), and continued military support including a program he described as the ‘‘Pearl program’’ for transferring American weaponry to Ukraine. He also noted recent technical meetings between military officials from both sides and said those talks would continue.

On China, asked about an expected summit between President Trump and President Xi Jinping in about two months, the Secretary described the bilateral relationship as one that ‘‘must be’’ managed through communication, even though ‘‘our national interests will often not align.’’ He said it would be geopolitical malpractice to avoid talks and that cooperation where interests overlap could produce global benefits, while cautioning that nothing agreed with China should come "at the expense of our national interest." The Secretary said the goal of diplomacy is to navigate competing national interests and avoid unnecessary friction or conflict.

The question period was short and closed for time; the Moderator thanked the Secretary for a ‘‘message of reassurance’’ and the audience applauded.