Moscow elites pleased with US envoy Witkoff and far from agreeing to peace (Ukraine Battlefield update, Day 1,702)

Russian journalists have reported on discussions between the Kremlin and the US regarding a potential peace deal, which includes a demilitarized zone in Donbas and Ukraine's EU membership without NATO. Despite these proposals, skepticism remains among Kremlin-linked elites about reaching a swift agreement. They express war fatigue but defer to President Putin's decisions. Some officials believe that Ukraine's victim narrative complicates negotiations, while others doubt the effectiveness of US involvement. The overall sentiment indicates a lack of optimism for an immediate resolution to the conflict, with officials waiting for a shift in the war's dynamics.