James Waterhouse

A once 28-point peace plan has now morphed into one with 20.

But the key questions of territorial concessions and, in the words of Volodymyr Zelensky, what the US will do if Russia invades again remain unanswered.

There is talk of the freezing of the front lines, which are currently being eroded through costly Russian assaults.

Where the Ukrainians fight to keep hold of frontline cities, they are being reduced to rubble regardless.

It is why Ukraine believes Russia is merely playing for time with these negotiations devoid of progress.