European Allies Work on Plan to Engage Putin in Ukraine Talks

Summary

Bloomberg's Anthony Halpin reports that UK, Germany, and France are working with Kyiv on a plan to engage Russia in peace talks. This comes as Putin's economy shows strain and US focus shifts to the Middle East, but the Kremlin may not take European overtures seriously.

• UK, Germany, and France are exploring diplomatic engagement with Russia alongside Ukraine.
• European leaders see an opportunity as the US steps back due to Middle East tensions.
• Putin's economy is under strain and Russian casualties are rising, according to the report.
• Some within Europe argue for increased sanctions rather than offering an off-ramp.
• The Kremlin may view the European initiative as a sign of weakness and prefer US-only talks.