Diplomacy over Ukraine warfare is about weapons greater than peace talks

Kyiv –
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 are going to pause combating. And Western diplomats are discussing what sort of protection alliance their nations might promise Ukraine to assist attain a settlement, officers say.

That sort of background chatter would appear to point a larger willingness by Ukraine and its allies to ultimately have interaction in peace talks with Russia. But probably the most pressing diplomacy happening 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 reveals no indicators of being keen to interact in peace talks in good religion. American and European officers, talking on situation of anonymity to debate delicate diplomacy, have made clear over the past week that they’re working on the concept Ukraine should consolidate and develop its positive factors on the battlefield in an effort to prod Putin towards the negotiating desk — and to have significant leverage if talks begin.