Vladimir Putin has shown little public sign that he is ready for serious talks to end Russia’s war against Ukraine, even as the battlefield appears to be shifting against Moscow. Daniel Fried, a former US ambassador to Poland and an expert on Central and Eastern Europe at the Atlantic Council think tank, told TVP World that Putin’s latest remarks in response to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s peace overtures suggested the Kremlin leader was still acting “as if Russia is winning the war.” Fried said there was still little evidence that Putin was ready for serious negotiations, but argued that Russia’s position was weakening. “There is plenty of evidence that the Russians are doing less and less well in the war,” he said. Fried welcomed recent remarks by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, saying they reflected a “belated but accurate” assessment that the war had turned in Ukraine’s favor. But he warned that words must now be matched by policy. ‘Time to lean forward’ “This is a time to lean forward, put pressure on Russia, and show that the US will stand behind Europe,” Fried said. He also criticized what he described as uncoordinated US troop reductions in Europe, warning that such moves could encourage Putin to believe he can simply outlast the West. Asked about reports that Washington could expand its nuclear deterrent on NATO’s eastern flank, Fried said such discussions were welcome, but not a substitute for conventional forces.
