Sarah Rainsford

we would be seeing more of his usual kind of loud boasts of how terrifically well things are going. There isn't even anything written in all capital letters in any of his social media posts. And that's because he frankly doesn't have a great deal to boast about after this week's diplomacy. He got President Putin to agree to an incredibly limited truce.

we would be seeing more of his usual kind of loud boasts of how terrifically well things are going. There isn't even anything written in all capital letters in any of his social media posts. And that's because he frankly doesn't have a great deal to boast about after this week's diplomacy. He got President Putin to agree to an incredibly limited truce.

not the full ceasefire for 30 days that Ukraine had already agreed to. Vladimir Putin is still insisting that there are various demands and guarantees he's looking for before he'll go towards a full ceasefire, let alone start talking about a peace settlement. So talks are going to begin again between the various American, Ukrainian and Russian teams in the Middle East this week.

not the full ceasefire for 30 days that Ukraine had already agreed to. Vladimir Putin is still insisting that there are various demands and guarantees he's looking for before he'll go towards a full ceasefire, let alone start talking about a peace settlement. So talks are going to begin again between the various American, Ukrainian and Russian teams in the Middle East this week.

But there is an awful lot of work to do combing through the fine detail of these things. And Donald Trump will be finding that enormously frustrating. He insisted this was going to be a swift and straightforward process. At the beginning of this week, White House officials were talking about how a peace deal was within reach and that we've never been closer.

But there is an awful lot of work to do combing through the fine detail of these things. And Donald Trump will be finding that enormously frustrating. He insisted this was going to be a swift and straightforward process. At the beginning of this week, White House officials were talking about how a peace deal was within reach and that we've never been closer.

But now it looks as though it's getting bogged down. And frankly, what are the usual details of this kind of shuttle diplomacy? But details Donald Trump thought he was going to be able to skip over, but he clearly hasn't been able to.

But now it looks as though it's getting bogged down. And frankly, what are the usual details of this kind of shuttle diplomacy? But details Donald Trump thought he was going to be able to skip over, but he clearly hasn't been able to.

I think so far until this point, he has been in control. I do think it's quite clear that from a Russian perspective, they've seen Donald Trump and his administration give way to some of their key demands, you know, even ahead of any discussions about a ceasefire. So I think there is a degree to which Russia feels like it's pulling the strings and it can continue. somewhat control this process.

I think so far until this point, he has been in control. I do think it's quite clear that from a Russian perspective, they've seen Donald Trump and his administration give way to some of their key demands, you know, even ahead of any discussions about a ceasefire. So I think there is a degree to which Russia feels like it's pulling the strings and it can continue. somewhat control this process.

But I do think there are some limitations to that because, of course, Donald Trump came into office promising essentially that he was going to resolve this crisis. He has since had to admit that it's become much more complicated than he had anticipated and it is taking time. But I'm not sure how much time and how much he is going to be willing to give Russia.

But I do think there are some limitations to that because, of course, Donald Trump came into office promising essentially that he was going to resolve this crisis. He has since had to admit that it's become much more complicated than he had anticipated and it is taking time. But I'm not sure how much time and how much he is going to be willing to give Russia.

I suspect at some point Russia is going to have to give something back. But for the moment, at least, it does seem that Russia is kind of the one calling the shots. And it is sounding pretty bullish, certainly in all the comments that we've heard so far from Russian officials. It does seem that they believe that their agenda is what's setting Russia the tone for all of the discussions so far.

I suspect at some point Russia is going to have to give something back. But for the moment, at least, it does seem that Russia is kind of the one calling the shots. And it is sounding pretty bullish, certainly in all the comments that we've heard so far from Russian officials. It does seem that they believe that their agenda is what's setting Russia the tone for all of the discussions so far.

So, yeah, I think at the moment it's going into these talks with maximalist demands still on the table.

So, yeah, I think at the moment it's going into these talks with maximalist demands still on the table.

He has. And I think his role in this entire process, including in those talks in Jeddah, the first conversations between Russian and American officials, his role is quite interesting because he's very close to Vladimir Putin, but he's also very much focused on money, on investment, on the economy. And the very fact that he has been talking about

He has. And I think his role in this entire process, including in those talks in Jeddah, the first conversations between Russian and American officials, his role is quite interesting because he's very close to Vladimir Putin, but he's also very much focused on money, on investment, on the economy. And the very fact that he has been talking about

the prospect of working with the United States, even talking about the potential for Russia and Elon Musk to cooperate and to collaborate and fly to Mars together. He's talking about big business deals. He's talking about the potential to entice American firms to Russia, to look for rare earths in Russia, not just in Ukraine or instead of Ukraine. So I think this shows that Russia is very much

the prospect of working with the United States, even talking about the potential for Russia and Elon Musk to cooperate and to collaborate and fly to Mars together. He's talking about big business deals. He's talking about the potential to entice American firms to Russia, to look for rare earths in Russia, not just in Ukraine or instead of Ukraine. So I think this shows that Russia is very much