NBC: Putin is not interested in a peace deal

CNBC is reporting that Russia Pres. Putin is not interested in a peace deal:

• U.S.-Russia Talks: The Trump administration has started preliminary negotiations with Russia to end the Ukraine war, with discussions set to take place in Saudi Arabia.
• Putin’s Intentions: Western intelligence officials and U.S. congressional sources indicate there is no intelligence suggesting Putin wants a real peace deal; instead, he still aims to control all of Ukraine.
• Putin’s Strategy: Intelligence suggests Putin believes he is winning and can wait out Ukraine and Europe. Battlefield losses are not pressuring him to stop fighting.
• Trump’s View: After a call with Putin, Trump stated he believes Putin wants to end the war, contradicting intelligence reports. He also spoke with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, who expressed a desire for peace.
• Negotiating Team: Trump has assembled a team for negotiations, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.
• Fogel’s Release: The U.S. secured the release of American teacher Marc Fogel from Russia, with Witkoff traveling to Moscow to bring him back. During the trip, Witkoff met with Putin for three hours, though details of the meeting remain undisclosed.
• Next Steps: Rubio, Witkoff, and Waltz are set to meet the Russian delegation as part of the ongoing diplomatic efforts.

This article was written by Greg Michalowski at www.forexlive.com.