It was quite a contrast.
On Thursday, a US Pentagon delegation was in Kyiv, discussing a draft plan to end the war in Ukraine.
On the same day, President Putin, clad in military fatigues, was addressing his army chiefs about ongoing operations on Russian state TV.
We have our tasks, our goals, the Kremlin leader declared. The chief one is the unconditional achievement of the aims of the special military operation.
Russian newspaper Izvestia noted that Putin's visit to a command post was a signal to the U.S. indicating he was prepared to negotiate on Ukraine, albeit on Russia's terms.
In relation to the proposed peace plan, the Kremlin stated that it has not received anything official from Washington. However, a leaked 28-point proposal has been widely circulated, interpreted as favorable to Russian terms.
This proposal emerged following a visit from President Putin's envoy Kirill Dmitriev to the U.S., where he engaged in three days of discussions with special envoy Steve Witkoff.
The suggested plan reportedly demands that Ukraine cede certain territories in the Donbass region, reduce its military size, and pledge not to join NATO.
While the Kremlin has not confirmed these details, it has publicly advised Kyiv to accept the deal.
Responding to inquiries, President Putin's spokesperson Dmitry Peskov remarked, The Russian military's effective work should convince Zelensky and his regime that it's better to strike a deal and do it now.
Amid ongoing pressures for a negotiated settlement, both sides face significant challenges. The Russian economy, in particular, is under strain, experiencing rising deficits and declining oil and gas revenues.
Nevertheless, the prospect of a peace agreement remains uncertain. Key elements of the leaked plan have sparked dissent within Russia, especially regarding potential security guarantees for Ukraine that resemble NATO's Article 5 commitments.
As discussions continue, the war in Ukraine shows no sign of abating, underscoring the complexities of achieving a lasting resolution.
