the russians occupy the cat bird seat;

Russian authorities do not believe that the fighting between Moscow and Kiev can be stopped at the moment, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said.

Peskov was asked by RIA-Novosti on Monday if there are currently any prerequisites for ending the Ukraine conflict.

The spokesman gave a short but conclusive reply: “No.”

He had reiterated last week that Russia “remains open to talks” to end the hostilities. “However, since there has been no progress in terms of Ukraine’s readiness for negotiations, we are continuing with our [military] operation,” Peskov stressed.

According to the spokesman, the dynamics on the battlefield “are self-evident: we are on the advance.”

In the fall of 2022, Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky signed a decree banning the Kiev government from any talks with Moscow. The legislation remains in force......more........