Scoop: NSA Jake Sullivan has been having quiet convos, undisclosed until now, with Russian officials

[Yorkie Mom]

Scoop: NSA Jake Sullivan has been having quiet convos, undisclosed until now, with Russian officials over Ukraine in an effort to deescalate amid concerns over nukes. @vmsalama and @mgordonwsj report tonight

Link to tweet

Senior White House Official Involved in Undisclosed Talks With Top Putin Aides

Jake Sullivan has had confidential discussions with Russian counterparts amid concerns over escalation and nuclear threats

WASHINGTON—President Biden’s top national-security adviser has engaged in recent months in confidential conversations with top aides to Russian President Vladimir Putin in an effort to reduce the risk of a broader conflict over Ukraine and warn Moscow against using nuclear or other weapons of mass destruction, U.S. and allied officials said.

The officials said that U.S. national-security adviser Jake Sullivan has been in contact with Yuri Ushakov, a foreign-policy adviser to Mr. Putin. Mr. Sullivan also has spoken with his direct counterpart in the Russian government, Nikolai Patrushev, the officials added.

The aim has been to guard against the risk of escalation and keep communications channels open, and not to discuss a settlement of the war in Ukraine, the officials said.

More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/senior-white-house-official-involved-in-undisclosed-talks-with-top-putin-aides-11667768988

[OAITW r.2.0]

1. I don't get why Russia would consider the use of Nukes in Ukraine.

Radiation travels and they would get the residual effects of the poisoning. A major food source is wasted. What the fuck is Putin's endgame? He has lost the military war, what's to win? If he really does have a terminal disease, the Russian minders best be keeping him from making post-Putin decisions.

[Botany]

2. It is nice to have grown ups back in charge

"President Biden’s top national-security adviser has engaged in recent months in confidential conversations with top aides to Russian President Vladimir Putin in an effort to reduce the risk of a broader conflict over Ukraine and warn Moscow against using nuclear or other weapons of mass destruction, U.S. and allied officials said."


Jake Sullivan
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jake_Sullivan

Sullivan attended Yale University, where he majored in international studies and political science and was awarded the Alpheus Henry Snow Prize.[4][2] He was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa his senior year and graduated summa cum laude with distinction in 1998 with a Bachelor of Arts.[4][5] Sullivan won a Rhodes Scholarship[6] to attend Magdalen College, Oxford, where he studied international relations.[4] He was awarded a Marshall Scholarship the same year but turned it down in favor of the Rhodes.[4] While at Oxford, Sullivan served as a managing editor of the Oxford International Review and was on the second place team at the 2000 World Universities Debating Championship in Sydney, Australia.[6][2] He graduated with a Master of Philosophy.[2] He graduated with a Juris Doctor from Yale Law School in 2003.[5]

[Tomconroy]

3. Sullivan should have been fired months ago.