Lise Doucette

There are those across Iran who are hoping that this will be the beginning of the change, the systemic change that they want.

And at the same time, the supporters of the Islamic Republic and its revolution will be calculating how best they can hold on to power.

This is a defining moment in the Islamic Republic of Iran as it faces off against problems at home and this very unpredictable war that is now confronting it.

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If there was a big red button that would just demolish the internet, I would smash that button with my forehead.

I think that's putting it mildly.

You know, I was looking at President Zelensky when he was at the Munich Security Conference last week.

I thought he looked especially exhausted and his language is one of exasperation.

You know, he is repeating his calls for America to apply more sanctions on Russia's nuclear energy industry.

He is also more broadly calling for more pressure to be put on Moscow.

and for America to be clearer what security guarantees it's willing to provide.

We've seen America before claim it is serious about providing these assurances, and now we're starting to get whispers that it will only be specific once it's clear what is in the mix.

for a peace deal, what will be provided in return.

And I think what Ukraine is struggling to get rid of are these proposals for it to simply hand over more territory to the Russians in the eastern Donbass region.

To boot, we've seen continued strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure.

We've also seen the Russians claim to intercept 150 Ukrainian drones or so over Moscow.

So when we talk about these things, it doesn't feel like solid ground for a compromise to be achieved in Geneva today.

But nevertheless, it is these discussions in these formats that will ultimately end wars like Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Russia is clearly satisfied in its continued invasion.

Vladimir Putin is fine with the costs, the human costs, the financial costs, and therefore Ukraine will see the need to keep defending and fighting back.