As Ukraine pounds the logistics and coordination points that sustain Russia’s armed forces, as well as strategic targets across other parts of the country, the key question is whether Kyiv can translate this success into a favourable deal.
The goal of Ukraine and its European allies is to make Vladimir Putin accept a deal to end the war without any of the major concessions he is demanding. These include a surrender of northwest Donetsk, abandoning hopes of joining Nato and placing limits on its military.
However, there is little basis for optimism in Putin’s public statements or the accounts of Kremlin insiders, even if most Russians now grudgingly accept there is no path to a quick victory in a war that could now jeopardise their own future.
Shorts
Mark Rutte, Nato’s Secretary General, recently acknowledged the difficulty of engaging with Russia’s President.
