US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Russian President Vladimir Putin had shown "no interest" in engaging in "meaningful diplomacy" with Ukraine, after eight months of bloody war.
"Our goal is simple. It's to support Ukraine, to ensure that their country remains independent ... and, ultimately, to have the strongest hand in the negotiations if anything comes up, as President Zelenskyy has said himself -- at some point, this will ended through diplomacy," Blinken told ABC News' George Stephanopoulos in a sit-down interview that aired Thursday on "Good Morning America." Stephanopoulos pressed Blinken about it, noting that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy "also said he would not negotiate with Vladimir Putin, only with the next president of Russia."
"Well, he was clear that diplomacy had to end this at some point," Blinken replied. "But what we've seen so far is no interest on Putin's part in meaningful diplomacy."
When asked if he thought Putin was "still rational," Blinken said: "It's hard to put yourself in other people's minds. I think he's rational, but the decisions he makes - or perhaps better, his goals - are irrational."
Meanwhile, OPEC+, a group of oil-producing nations led by Saudi Arabia and Russia, announced earlier this month that it would cut output significantly to boost prices. The move has forced the United States to release 15 million barrels of oil from its strategic reserves, leading many in Washington to question whether Riyadh remains an ally, even though Saudi Arabia voted in favor of a US-backed United Nations resolution last week condemning Moscow's decision. illegal attempts to annex war-torn parts of Ukraine.
“The step that Saudi Arabia and the OPEC+ organization has taken is one that is very unfortunate and also very misguided,” Blinken said, “so far as it causes oil prices to rise and Russia exports oil, it helps line Putin's pockets. "
"We are all trying to restore economic growth," he added. "It was the right time to make production cuts."
Stephanopoulos pressed Blinken whether it was "an act of an ally."
"In this case, no," replied Blinken. "But we have many interests with Saudi Arabia."
Russia's continued invasion of neighboring Ukraine and the collapse of its global economy are not the only challenges facing the United States abroad. With Chinese President Xi Jinping poised to secure an unprecedented third term, Blinken said he was confident Beijing would seek rapid reunification with Taiwan, a self-governing island that split from mainland China in 1949, despite Beijing's claim to its territory. Xi, who has been in power for more than a decade, has made clear his desire to reunite China with Taiwan and, in his speech opening the Chinese Communist Party's 20th National Congress in Beijing on Sunday, he gave no indication of changing course. problem.
Asked if he thought Xi would speed up the reunification process "by any means necessary," Blinken said: "Potentially by any means. Through coercion and pressure and potentially, if necessary, by force."
The US government has a "One China Policy" that recognizes the people of mainland China and Taiwan as part of "One China," views Beijing as China's only official government and does not support an independent Taiwan, but considers the issue "unresolved." Washington also militarily supported self-governing islands and maintained extensive commercial and unofficial links.
"We are committed to doing everything we can ... to ensure that Taiwan has the capability to defend itself effectively against aggression," Blinken added. "We have also made clear to China that our hope is that these differences will be resolved amicably."
Stephanopoulos asked Blinken what he should say to Americans who may feel "the world is more dangerous today than ever."
"I said yes, it's dangerous. It's complicated. It's challenging. And partly because we know what's happening around the world in real-time in a way we've never done before," Blinken replied. "But at the same time, I also see incredible opportunities, and opportunities that we have to find ways to take advantage of them."
"One of the first instructions I got from President Biden in taking on this job was to revive our partnership," he added. "We have to be able to work with other countries. That's the essence of our diplomacy. And today, in Philadelphia, I'm going to have the opportunity to swear by some new Americans -- one part of my job. The job that gives me the greatest satisfaction."
Stephanopo"This is the renewal of our country," replied Blinken. "My late stepfather, he became a citizen of the United States ... and he used to say to me: 'You know, you are an American citizen by accident which is very happy birth. I am an American by choice.' That's a very powerful thing. That's what brings our country forward."ulos noted how "Blinken's face just shone".
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