Blinken says no Ukraine cease-fire without a peace deal that includes Russia's withdrawal

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says the Washington won’t support peace talks in the war in Ukraine until Kyiv holds the upper hand, possibly after a Ukrainian counteroffensive that appears to be taking shape. Blinken said in Finland on Friday that heeding calls from Russia and others for a ceasefire and negotiations to end the war now would result in a “Potemkin peace” that wouldn’t secure Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity or enhance European security. “Potemkin Village” was a tactic Russia’s 18th century government minister Grigory Potemkin used to build brightly painted village fronts to create an illusion of prosperity for Russia’s empress. Ukrainian officials have given confusing signals about whether a counteroffensive is coming or already underway.