NATO and the USA consider it necessary to ensure a strong position of Ukraine before the start of peace negotiations with Russia. At the same time, Ukraine determines the terms and time for negotiations. This was stated by the US Permanent Representative to NATO, Julianna Smith, at an online briefing.

 She emphasized that the issue of negotiations with Russia remains in the hands of President Volodymyr Zelenskіy.

 "He will determine the terms on which he will be willing to come to the negotiating table and when to come to the negotiating table. Our position as the United States, and it is supported in NATO, is that we must ensure that President Zelenskіy and Ukraine are in the strongest possible position at the beginning such negotiations," Smith said.

 According to her, it is not known when Russia will want to sit down at the negotiating table and take Ukraine seriously. Currently, there are no such signs.

 "But the decision will be in the hands of Ukrainians, we are not pushing them to any specific date or schedule," she added.