Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has referred to as for a brand new peace summit in November, one open to participation by Russia. American and European officers privately wonder if the Ukrainian and Russian militaries are so exhausted that they’ll pause preventing. And Western diplomats are discussing what sort of protection alliance their nations may promise Ukraine to assist attain a settlement, officers say.
That type of background chatter would appear to point a better willingness by Ukraine and its allies to finally have interaction in peace talks with Russia. However essentially the most pressing diplomacy going down now — and mentioned with depth this week in Kyiv, Washington and London — is about shaping the battlefield in Ukraine’s favor.
Ukrainian and Western officers say President Vladimir Putin nonetheless exhibits no indicators of being prepared to interact in peace talks in good religion. American and European officers, talking on situation of anonymity to debate delicate diplomacy, have made clear during the last week that they’re working on the concept Ukraine should consolidate and broaden its positive aspects on the battlefield in an effort to prod Putin towards the negotiating desk — and to have significant leverage if talks begin.
