It's propaganda. There are communist extremists in this thread trying to convince everyone the US is evil and using Ukraine as a bargaining chip.

I don't even disagree that the US has done, and will continue to do evil stuff... But this isn't one of those times.

The US is refusing to deal in back channels with Russia, and are insisting Ukraine be involved. From the article:

A U.S. official, speaking in Washington on condition of anonymity, said that the U.S. has not engaged in any back channel discussions with Russia and that Washington had been consistent in not going behind the back of Ukraine.

That's right, they should be. They aren't doing so because it's in the interest of the U.S. to continue the war, and the Ukrainian government more or less exists at the pleasure of the U.S.