NATO, Ukraine autonomy poses diplomatic challenge for Biden

By ELLEN KNICKMEYER, MATTHEW LEE and NOMAAN MERCHANT
Related press

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Joe Biden says the United States will play a more direct role in diplomacy to address Vladimir Putin’s concerns about Ukraine and Europe. It is part of a broader effort to prevent the Russian leader from ordering a destabilizing new invasion of Ukraine. But any negotiations aimed at peacefully resolving Europe’s East-West rivalry would create minefields for Biden. The challenge will encourage Kyiv to accept some of the realities of reality in regions of eastern Ukraine now controlled by Russian-backed separatists. And do so without showing fear in front of Putin.