Russian President Vladimir Putin believes the United States can step in to force Ukraine into a peace deal. He says his country is ready for those talks, but says Ukraine refuses to talk.

“This is not about us, we are ready to negotiate. But leaders in Kiev have decided not to continue negotiations with Russia,” Putin said during a speech in Moscow. “Washington should send a signal to Kiev that it is time to change its position and resolve the problem peacefully,” Putin said.

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Han Baumeister, a colonel and military strategy author, is skeptical of Putin’s intentions. “He still sees himself winning in Ukraine so he doesn’t need to be at the negotiating table.’ Putin’s speech was primarily a signal to the West. “He is trying to scare them. He speaks of a “terrible winter” coming. By doing so, he tries to respond to the sensibilities of living in the West,’ thinks Bouwmeester.

The US does not want to force Ukraine to negotiate

On Tuesday, a US national security spokesman said no such signal would come from the US. “Mr. Zelensky has to decide — because it’s his country — what victory looks like and when to negotiate,” Progressive Democrat MPs wrote in response to a letter urging the president to press for negotiations.

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There have been no peace talks between Russia and Ukraine since negotiations in the early weeks of the conflict went nowhere. Later, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky openly rejected talks between himself and Putin.