Negotiations with Russia to end the war should be left to the Ukrainian President.

 US National Security Council Special Coordinator for Communications John Kirby told CNN Wednesday that any discussions on whether it’s time to negotiate with Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine should be left to President Zelenskyy, not the US. According to Kirby, the US does not see any sign of the war ending soon. Both sides are still engaged in violent fighting in the Donbas, and the Russians are in defensive positions throughout the south where the Ukrainians continue trying to press forward. Therefore, it is expected that the war will continue for some time going forward. Kirby said that military analysts have suggested winter freezes may cause a lull in skirmishes as conditions become less than ideal for fighting both in the air and on the ground in Ukraine. However, he added that the US does not expect the fighting to stop in the winter months.