Willem Marks

is going to be crucial to ensure that Russian President Vladimir Putin is forced to negotiate on more equal terms, shall we say. But members of the US administration have been briefing the media over the past few days that there are now options on the table, at least from their perspective. that would include the recognition by Ukraine of territory currently held by the invaders, Russia.

Okay, now how have Ukrainians responded to that? Well, not well, as you might imagine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly ruled out the possibility that Ukraine would, for instance, recognize, let's say, the Crimean Peninsula or parts of eastern Ukraine as Russian territory. Some of those were first annexed back in 2014.

Okay, now how have Ukrainians responded to that? Well, not well, as you might imagine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly ruled out the possibility that Ukraine would, for instance, recognize, let's say, the Crimean Peninsula or parts of eastern Ukraine as Russian territory. Some of those were first annexed back in 2014.

Okay, now how have Ukrainians responded to that? Well, not well, as you might imagine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly ruled out the possibility that Ukraine would, for instance, recognize, let's say, the Crimean Peninsula or parts of eastern Ukraine as Russian territory. Some of those were first annexed back in 2014.

But there have also been some pretty surprising recent statements out of Moscow, meanwhile, with President Putin saying on Russian state TV he'd always, quote, looked positively on any peace initiatives and he hoped Ukrainian leaders would do the same.

But there have also been some pretty surprising recent statements out of Moscow, meanwhile, with President Putin saying on Russian state TV he'd always, quote, looked positively on any peace initiatives and he hoped Ukrainian leaders would do the same.

But there have also been some pretty surprising recent statements out of Moscow, meanwhile, with President Putin saying on Russian state TV he'd always, quote, looked positively on any peace initiatives and he hoped Ukrainian leaders would do the same.

The Kremlin's chief spokesperson said those comments from the Russian president indicated a willingness to re-engage in direct talks with Ukraine about, at the very least, ending strikes on civilian targets. Okay, so then what's the United States' role in all of this? Well, you know, the absence of Secretary of State Rubio seems significant.

The Kremlin's chief spokesperson said those comments from the Russian president indicated a willingness to re-engage in direct talks with Ukraine about, at the very least, ending strikes on civilian targets. Okay, so then what's the United States' role in all of this? Well, you know, the absence of Secretary of State Rubio seems significant.

The Kremlin's chief spokesperson said those comments from the Russian president indicated a willingness to re-engage in direct talks with Ukraine about, at the very least, ending strikes on civilian targets. Okay, so then what's the United States' role in all of this? Well, you know, the absence of Secretary of State Rubio seems significant.

Just last week in Paris, he'd said the Americans wanted discussions to move forward within days, otherwise there was a possibility the U.S. would move on. Steve Witkoff, the White House has said, will be travelling to Moscow, not to London this week, for a fourth face-to-face meeting with Putin.

Just last week in Paris, he'd said the Americans wanted discussions to move forward within days, otherwise there was a possibility the U.S. would move on. Steve Witkoff, the White House has said, will be travelling to Moscow, not to London this week, for a fourth face-to-face meeting with Putin.

Just last week in Paris, he'd said the Americans wanted discussions to move forward within days, otherwise there was a possibility the U.S. would move on. Steve Witkoff, the White House has said, will be travelling to Moscow, not to London this week, for a fourth face-to-face meeting with Putin.

And meanwhile, President Zelensky said that none of the potential ideas the US administration has been floating in the media have actually been formally shared with him or his team.

And meanwhile, President Zelensky said that none of the potential ideas the US administration has been floating in the media have actually been formally shared with him or his team.

And meanwhile, President Zelensky said that none of the potential ideas the US administration has been floating in the media have actually been formally shared with him or his team.

And so it's kind of unclear whether the US is trying to stand between these two warring parties, as the mediator might, or instead to sort of create a peace framework, almost unilaterally, that Russia and Ukraine would be asked to simply accept.

And so it's kind of unclear whether the US is trying to stand between these two warring parties, as the mediator might, or instead to sort of create a peace framework, almost unilaterally, that Russia and Ukraine would be asked to simply accept.

And so it's kind of unclear whether the US is trying to stand between these two warring parties, as the mediator might, or instead to sort of create a peace framework, almost unilaterally, that Russia and Ukraine would be asked to simply accept.

Well, pretty obscure, frankly. President Putin's called the unilateral temporary ceasefire, you might remember, on Saturday evening for the entirety of the Easter weekend. But Britain's Defence Secretary John Healey told Parliament here in London yesterday that British military intelligence indicated there'd been no let up whatsoever in those attacks over the Easter weekend.