“The Russian people have a high degree of apathy when it comes to Putin.”

Putin’s grip on the Russian people is vulnerable to just “snapping” as they wake up to impacts of oil shortages, says former US special envoy to Ukraine, Kurt Volker.

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“One by one we can take you out.”

Ukraine is “causing Putin pain” by taking out Russia’s oil infrastructure and strategic bomber fleet, says former Air Vice Marshal Sean Bell.

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“They’re time limited.”

Putin has failed to gain more than 0.9 per cent of Ukrainian territory this year, but has lost 400,000 Russians in the process, says Scott Lucas.

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“The frontline has not collapsed, despite what they want us to believe.”

Ukraine’s MOD says they have taken back about 20 per cent of Pokrovsk, says former British Army Colonel Hamish de Bretton-Gordon.

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"Russia have to reckon with the fact that Donald Trump has three more years in the white House. Is he going to be a lame duck president in a year's time?"

Putin's scepticism for Trump's appeal to Russia and favourable peace deals is based in his mistrust of MAGA's ability to avoid collapse, warns John Lough, Head of Foreign Policy at the New Eurasian Strategies Centre.

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"Kyiv and the Europeans held out. They don't accept the plan and importantly, Marco Rubio, who does not like the Witkoff - Kushner plan, he's the head of the US delegation."

US figures are worried about Steve Witkoff's role in peace talks after leaks suggested he had been coaching Russian representatives on manipulating Trump, Prof. Scott Lucas discusses the latest on Frontline with Louis Sykes.

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“If the US, along with Europe, pressurize Russia more, and we will continue as well with our deep strikes…this may bring Russia to the negotiating table whether they want it or not.”

Putting pressure on Putin’s economy could be the key to Ukraine winning the war as it's in “a very poor state at the moment” and has no hope of improving, says former advisor to the minister of defence of Ukraine, Yuriy Sak. 

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“The tone of the call is viewing Russia as a partner… and Ukraine as an object...that is troubling.”

The leaked transcript of Witkoff reportedly ‘coaching’ Russian officials adds to the “dysfunctionality” being shown by Trump's administration over the peace plan, says former US special envoy to Ukraine Ambassador Kurt Volker.

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“The Russians are pretty largely stuck… and that’s pretty uncomfortable for Putin.”

Putin may be “overstretching himself” by trying to stir up trouble in Nato countries while not making any advances in Ukraine, says former British ambassador Lord Ricketts.

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