Expert: Putin sees no path to peace in Ukraine

A Latvian geopolitics expert says Russia currently has no interest in diplomatic solutions in Ukraine, and that President Vladimir Putin believes he can win the war. This follows a meeting between Putin and US envoy Steve Witkoff that has dampened European hopes for peace talks. The expert, Māris Andžāns, doubts Witkoff's latest meeting will be a turning point, noting it was likely the ninth such encounter. He points to the US restricting intelligence sharing and Starlink access for Ukraine as evidence of a US-Ukraine rift, and suggests President Trump is blaming Ukraine for rising diesel prices ahead of the midterm elections. While a trilateral technical meeting is possible around November 10th, the expert warns a proposed summit involving Putin, Trump, and China's Xi Jinping would be a worst-case scenario. He argues China is not neutral and would not pressure Russia, potentially leading to a plan that amounts to Ukraine's capitulation.