Russia Ready for Peace Talks with US on Ukraine; Europe Could Replace US Aid to Ukraine, Says IfW Study

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated that Russia is prepared to engage in discussions with the United States regarding a peace initiative involving both the US and Ukraine. Contacts could potentially occur as early as Thursday. According to a study by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW), Europe has the capacity to substitute both financial and military aid from the United States to Ukraine, although not entirely across all areas. The study, released on Thursday, March 13, indicates that with relatively minor additional financial efforts, European countries could offset a complete cessation of American aid to Ukraine in multiple sectors.