Vitaly Shevchenko

pro-war commentators and war reporters in Russia. They don't really like these moves towards peace. In practical terms, I suppose you can see what's been going on in the skies over Ukraine as a Russian reaction. There have been numerous attacks by Russian drones targeting Ukrainian cities in Dnipropetrovsk. More than 20 drones were have been attacking various places across the city.

There are reports of attacks in Odessa. And as we speak, there's more than a dozen Russian drones roaming the skies above Ukraine. So that's a reaction of sorts, if you like.

There are reports of attacks in Odessa. And as we speak, there's more than a dozen Russian drones roaming the skies above Ukraine. So that's a reaction of sorts, if you like.

Well, there are different scenarios. In a way, Russia earlier rejected similar proposals coming from France and Great Britain. Maria Zakharova, the foreign ministry spokeswoman, she said that fighting would only resume with renewed force after a ceasefire. Whether it makes a difference that such proposals are now coming from America remains to be seen. But if we were to have a look at history...

Well, there are different scenarios. In a way, Russia earlier rejected similar proposals coming from France and Great Britain. Maria Zakharova, the foreign ministry spokeswoman, she said that fighting would only resume with renewed force after a ceasefire. Whether it makes a difference that such proposals are now coming from America remains to be seen. But if we were to have a look at history...

Over the course of these 11 years of war, numerous attempts have been made to broker a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. They've all failed.

Over the course of these 11 years of war, numerous attempts have been made to broker a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. They've all failed.

Vitaly, what's your take? Well, there are different degrees of victory and surrender in this war. The extreme version of defeat for Ukraine would, of course, be if Russia were to capture all of its territory. However, I don't think this is realistic or even something that Vladimir Putin will be seeking because controlling that vast territory, that's going to be difficult.

Vitaly, what's your take? Well, there are different degrees of victory and surrender in this war. The extreme version of defeat for Ukraine would, of course, be if Russia were to capture all of its territory. However, I don't think this is realistic or even something that Vladimir Putin will be seeking because controlling that vast territory, that's going to be difficult.

Vitaly, what's your take? Well, there are different degrees of victory and surrender in this war. The extreme version of defeat for Ukraine would, of course, be if Russia were to capture all of its territory. However, I don't think this is realistic or even something that Vladimir Putin will be seeking because controlling that vast territory, that's going to be difficult.

More realistic, he would be happier with controlling the four regions in Ukraine's southeast that Russia claims as its own, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhia. Maybe a bit more. And the rest, it's not inconceivable to imagine a scenario where... Putin would be happy for it to be run by a pliable Ukrainian government.

More realistic, he would be happier with controlling the four regions in Ukraine's southeast that Russia claims as its own, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhia. Maybe a bit more. And the rest, it's not inconceivable to imagine a scenario where... Putin would be happy for it to be run by a pliable Ukrainian government.

More realistic, he would be happier with controlling the four regions in Ukraine's southeast that Russia claims as its own, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhia. Maybe a bit more. And the rest, it's not inconceivable to imagine a scenario where... Putin would be happy for it to be run by a pliable Ukrainian government.

After all, if we were to rewind history, this is how it was until, well, 2013-ish, 2014-ish, when Ukraine was perfectly happy to be in Russia's orbit. The moment Ukraine started looking westwards, Putin cut gas supplies to Ukraine, sent in troops. So that gives us an idea of what Vladimir Putin may realistically be seeking.

After all, if we were to rewind history, this is how it was until, well, 2013-ish, 2014-ish, when Ukraine was perfectly happy to be in Russia's orbit. The moment Ukraine started looking westwards, Putin cut gas supplies to Ukraine, sent in troops. So that gives us an idea of what Vladimir Putin may realistically be seeking.

After all, if we were to rewind history, this is how it was until, well, 2013-ish, 2014-ish, when Ukraine was perfectly happy to be in Russia's orbit. The moment Ukraine started looking westwards, Putin cut gas supplies to Ukraine, sent in troops. So that gives us an idea of what Vladimir Putin may realistically be seeking.

The fact is that America's military machine is the biggest in the world with the furthest outreach when it comes to satellites, intelligence gathering, intelligence sharing. This is just something that European countries would struggle to match, frankly.

The fact is that America's military machine is the biggest in the world with the furthest outreach when it comes to satellites, intelligence gathering, intelligence sharing. This is just something that European countries would struggle to match, frankly.

The fact is that America's military machine is the biggest in the world with the furthest outreach when it comes to satellites, intelligence gathering, intelligence sharing. This is just something that European countries would struggle to match, frankly.

Ukraine was getting the vast chunk, I believe 80% of its intelligence that helped it target Russian energy infrastructure, ammunition storage facilities, intercept missiles. 80% of that intelligence came from the United States. Replacing that would be an enormous challenge for Europe.