A History of Betrayal: Biden’s Team Keeps Negotiating About Ukraine Without Ukraine | August 13, 2023
https://www.kasparov.com/a-history-of-betrayal-biden-keeps-negotiating-about-ukraine-without-ukraine-august-13-2023/The Timeline
Date Action Biden Negotiator Reported by
January 26, 2021 Joe Biden holds his first phone call with Vladimir Putin, discussing Ukraine. Joe Biden CNN
February 13, 2021 John Kerry calls Sergei Lavrov. John Kerry Barron’s
March 17, 2021 Biden calls Putin a killer in an ABC interview. CNN
March 24, 2021 Russia recalls its Ambassador to the U.S. NYT
April 6, 2021 John Kerry meets Sergei Lavrov secretly in Delhi to discuss a potential Biden-Putin summit. John Kerry Economic Times of India
April 16, 2021 U.S. sanctions 10 Russian diplomats over cyber hacks. NBC
April 17, 2021 Russia sanctions 10 diplomats, tells U.S. to recall its ambassador. NBC
May 25, 2021 To secure a summit with Putin, Joe Biden lifts sanctions on Nord Stream 2 Pipeline companies. Joe Biden Bloomberg
March to June, 2021 Ahead of the summit, Joe Biden phones Vladimir Putin to apologize for the killer comments, back down. Joe Biden Reuters
June 16, 2021 Biden-Putin Summit in Geneva, discussing Ukraine. Joe Biden
July 12, 2021 John Kerry meets Sergei Lavrov in Moscow, calls Putin by phone. John Kerry Reuters
July 12, 2021 Putin does not meet with Kerry. He leaves Moscow instead to avoid Kerry and calls by phone instead. John Kerry NPR
August 31, 2021 Biden approves $60 million in military aid to Ukraine, but delays delivery until after another round of negotiations with Putin fails in November. NYT
September 1, 2021 Biden hosts Volodymyr Zelenskyy for a White House visit. White House
November 2-3, 2021 Bill Burns flies to Moscow, meets Sergei Naryshkin. Bill Burns CNN
November 2, 2021 Putin does not meet with Burns. He leaves Moscow for Sochi to avoid Burns, but calls by phone instead. After the call, Burns says, “I came away with a very strong impression that Putin had just about made up his mind to go to war.” Bill Burns Politico
November 2, 2021 In Sochi, Putin assembles Russia’s defense companies and generals to prepare to invade Ukraine. Kremlin
November 1, 2021 After failed negotiations with Putin, Biden delivers the weapons promised in August. NYT
December 5, 2021 White House says Putin will invade “as soon as early 2022.” FT
December 7, 2021 Biden and Putin call to discuss Ukraine. Joe Biden White House
December 9, 2021 Biden and Zelenskyy call after the Biden-Putin call. White House
December 10, 2021 NBC reports Biden has delayed a $200 million weapons package to Ukraine for weeks, despite Zelenskyy’s pleas, while negotiating with Putin instead. Joe Biden NBC
December 30, 2021 Biden and Putin call about Ukraine. Joe Biden White House
Late December, 2021 After negotiations with Putin break down, Biden approves $200 million in drawdowns from U.S. arms to Ukraine, but no tanks, planes, or heavy weapons. WaPo
Mid-January, 2022 Bill Burns secretly flies to Kyiv, tells Volodymyr Zelenskyy the Russians are planning to invade Ukraine, assassinate him. Bill Burns Business Insider
January 19, 2022 Biden predicts Putin will invade Ukraine. NBC
February 2-3, 2022 Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Mark Milley predicts in Congressional testimony that Kyiv would fall within 72 hours of an invasion, at least partially based on a RAND corporation report. (Fox) (RAND)
February 12, 2022 Biden and Putin call about Ukraine. Joe Biden White House
February 18, 2022 Biden “convinced” Putin will invade Ukraine. NPR
February 24, 2022 Putin launches a second, full-fledged invasion of Ukraine.
February 24, 2022 White House officials expect Ukraine to fall in 96 hours. Newsweek
February 26, 2022 Biden approves $350 million in military aid to Ukraine, but no tanks, planes, or heavy weapons. NYT
March to April, 2022 The U.S. sends small arms, but blocks heavy weapons to Ukraine. The U.S. holds these bargaining chips on the table while negotiations with Russia continue. CNN
March 9, 2022 The U.S. rejects a Polish plan to send MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine. CNN
March 16, 2022 The U.S. does not respond to a Slovakian plan to send S-300s, MiG-29s to Ukraine. CNN
April 7, 2022 A negotiated land for peace deal falls apart. In response, the U.S. increases military support for Ukraine. (NPR) (Foreign Affairs)
April 8, 2022 The U.S. finally approves Slovakia’s S-300 transfer, but blocks the MiG-29 transfer. Reuters
April 10, 2022 Jake Sullivan rejects Ukrainian requests for heavy weapons like jets and tanks, says U.S. will provide Ukraine “the weapons it needs.” Jake Sullivan Reuters
April 13, 2022 Biden calls Zelenskyy, offers $800 million in military aid, but rejects the requests for tanks and planes. White House
April 26, 2022 Lloyd Austin convenes 40+ nations’ militaries at Ramstein Air Base to support Ukraine’s defense. WaPo
May 13, 2022 Lloyd Austin calls Sergei Shoigu. Defense Department
June 22, 2022 Russia rejects negotiations. Sergei Lavrov flies to Iran instead to undermine U.S.-Iran negotiations. Reuters
June 23, 2022 After negotiations fail, the U.S. sends HIMARS, its first heavy weapons, to Ukraine. Reuters
June 23, 2022 But the U.S. altered them to limit their range, effectiveness for fears of “escalation.” WSJ
July 30, 2022 Antony Blinken calls Sergei Lavrov. CNN
November 6, 2022 Jake Sullivan calls Kremlin officials. Jake Sullivan WSJ
November 14, 2022 Bill Burns meets Sergei Naryshkin in Ankara. Bill Burns Guardian
November 14, 2022 Biden says publicly “We are not going to engage in any negotiation. There’s nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine.” CNN
November 15, 2022 Bill Burns meets Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv. Bill Burns EuroNews
November 16, 2022 Mark Milley says Ukrainian victory unlikely, advocates “political solution.” VoA
January 14, 2023 The UK announces it will send tanks to Ukraine. The U.S. and other NATO allies wait for negotiations with Putin. Guardian
January 17, 2023 Sergei Naryshkin agrees to meet Bill Burns in Moscow. Bill Burns Reuters
January 19, 2023 Bill Burns secretly meets Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv to discuss this deal. The U.S. and Russia deny such negotiations happened. Bill Burns (AP) (Reuters)
Late January, 2023 Bill Burns secretly meets Sergei Naryshkin in Moscow, reportedly offers 20% of Ukraine to Russia in exchange for peace. The deal falls apart. Bill Burns NZZ
January 25, 2023 As soon as the deal fails, Germany and the U.S. both immediately agree to send tanks to Ukraine. NYT
April 4, 2023 Antony Blinken calls Sergei Lavrov. State Department
Late April, 2023 Richard Haass, Charles Kupchan, and other former White House officials meet Sergei Lavrov in New York. This group has consistently talked with Lavrov, and at least one member has flown to Moscow. NBC
June 28, 2023 Sergei Lavrov says Kremlin in contact with Jake Sullivan. Per Lavrov, U.S. Ambassador Lynne Tracy calls the Wagner coup “Russia’s internal affair.” Jake Sullivan Reuters
June 30, 2023 Bill Burns calls Sergei Naryshkin to discuss “what to do with Ukraine” after the Wagner insurrection. Bill Burns (Guardian) (NYT)
July 9, 2023 Biden rules out any deal on future NATO membership for Ukraine, leaving a bargaining chip for negotiations with Russia. CNN
July 14, 2023 Politico reports that European partners are still waiting on the U.S. to formally approve training Ukrainian pilots in F-16’s. Politico
July 22, 2023 Biden elevates Bill Burns to the Cabinet. Bill Burns AP
July 23, 2023 The Washington Post reports that the U.S. continues to block Ukrainian requests for long-range ATACMS missiles, despite Zelenskyy personally asking Biden in Vilnius. WaPo
July 23, 2023 President Zelenskyy confirms that NATO delays pushed back Ukraine’s counteroffensive by months. CNN
August 11, 2023 The Washington Post reports that after months of delay, only six Ukrainian pilots will be trained to fly F-16’s by next summer. WaPo
