Putin hints at readiness for Ukraine war peace talks, raising hopes and suspicions

Per Bloomberg's sources, who requested anonymity, Putin is indirectly signaling to the U.S. his willingness to discuss the future of Ukraine. They assert that the Russian leader's message was relayed to high-ranking U.S. officials last month through a go-between, whose identity they chose not to divulge.

The American service's informants suggest that Putin might be open to reconsidering his insistence on Ukraine's neutrality and might eventually relinquish his opposition to Kyiv's potential membership of NATO. It's noteworthy that Russia viewed this possibility as a threat and attributed it as the primary reason for the invasion.

The American officials Bloomberg consulted suggest that Putin's supposed overtures might merely be a testing technique, as they observe no indications that the Russian president is seriously contemplating ending the conflict.

"The Russian suggestions of openness to talks, even if disingenuous, may have the effect of causing division among Ukraine's allies and isolating Kyiv, thus undermining President Volodymyr Zelensky's attempts to garner support for his peace initiative. Kyiv earnestly seeks a comprehensive withdrawal of Russia from Ukrainian territory," writes Bloomberg.

Source: Bloomberg