@elephantmarchingin
Also feeling more negative about peace talks today on bbc it has reported 'An advisor to Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that a Russian proposal that Ukraine adopts an Austrian style neutrality is unacceptable to the country.
Mykhailo Podoliak, a member of the Ukrainian negotiating team, told local media any peace deal must be on Ukrainian terms that protect its sovereignty.
"We understand the attempt of our partners to remain proactive in the negotiation process," Podoliak said. "Hence the words about the" Swedish" or "Austrian model" of neutrality. But Ukraine is now in a state of direct war with Russia."
"Therefore, the model can only be "Ukrainian" and only with legally verified security guarantees. And no other models or options."
Earlier this morning, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia was open to a peace deal that saw a neutral Ukraine maintain its own army and navy, along the lines of Austria or Sweden.'
I'm not feeling so pessimistic, Russia has already budged a considerable way from its position at the start of the invasion. It's sensible of Ukraine to resist an Austria-style version of neutrality because nobody (hopefully) is fomenting designs on its sovereignty. The two sides are edging closer together. I don't think this will be resolved in the next few days, but I do still hold out hope that protracting this any further will become so unfeasible to Russia that it will have no choice but to budge further.
I can see potential further pressure gathering on Russia in the days to come. At some point, it's going to become impossible to cover up the number of Russian soldier's killed, no matter how much propaganda is pumped out. For all the talk of China stepping in with support, I don't think they've actually done so have they?