The ball is in Russia’s court – this is the mantra of all involved in the US-Ukraine ceasefire proposals. The fact that, after those disgraceful scenes in the Oval Office, such an agreement could be reached at all is a testament to the common sense and skill of diplomats on all sides.
The Ukrainian delegation at the peace talks in Jeddah appear to have reached the levels of deference that their US counterparts judge appropriate – and, more substantively, have accepted the proposed one-month moratorium without any security conditions. Volodymyr Zelensky’s team know that the frozen ceasefire line could end up being their country’s de facto or de jure international border with Russia, meaning the consequent loss of one-fifth of their territory, and accepting the loss of people and resources.
