US President Joe Biden considers the liberation of Kherson a significant victory for Ukraine and has stated that the United States will not negotiate with Russia without Ukraine's participation.

Biden had been asked whether he considers Russia's retreat from Kherson a turning point in the war and whether the United States is ready to support Ukraine to achieve Kyiv's stated goal of liberating its entire territory, including Crimea.

"It was a significant, significant victory for Ukraine – a significant victory – and I can do nothing but applaud the courage, determination and capacity of Ukrainian people and Ukrainian military. I mean, they’ve really been amazing," Biden said, commenting on the withdrawal of Russian troops from the west bank during a press conference in Bali on 14 November.

He noted that the United States are "going to continue to provide the capability for the Ukrainian people to defend themselves".

"We are not going to engage in any negotiation. There's nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine, this is a decision Ukraine has to make," Biden said, commenting on the possibility of potential negotiations with Russia.

Biden also expects that hostilities will "slow down a bit" on the battlefield in the winter months, in particular due to the "inability to move as well, as easily around the country". But Russia will not be able to achieve its original goal.

"I am confident that Russia will not occupy or defend Ukraine as they intended from the beginning," the US President said.

The Wall Street Journal reported, citing its sources, that Biden's advisor Jake Sullivan has recommended that Zelenskyy's team start thinking about its realistic demands for negotiations with Russia, including a reconsideration of Ukraine's stated aim of regaining Crimea.

Sullivan later confirmed that communication channels between Washington and Moscow remain open despite the war in Ukraine.