Five signals reveal Putin's next moves

US President Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff announced Tuesday that trilateral peace talks between the US, Ukraine, and Russia will be held in Abu Dhabi on November 10-11, with the Kremlin confirming the meeting. According to Finnish Institute of International Affairs senior researcher Jussi Lassila, key indicators of Russia's intentions include whether Moscow reduces strikes in Ukraine, though Russia typically keeps policy shifts secret. Putin may also be exploiting Trump's position, potentially playing the US president against Europe, while simultaneously sending mixed signals about peace negotiations. Experts remain pessimistic about the talks' prospects, with Lassila noting Putin likely believes time favors Russia and has no urgency to compromise. University of Tampere professor Tuomas Forsberg says progress would mean merely agreeing on next steps, while key questions include whether Putin accepts a ceasefire or demands full control of Donetsk.