Putin has hardened his stance: the Russians consider foreign peacekeepers in Ukraine as targets

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with American envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, asserting he will not concede territorial claims and labeling foreign peacekeeping troops in Ukraine as a war escalation. This stance diminishes the likelihood of an agreement before the end of 2026, despite Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's recent optimism about a peace opportunity. Additionally, the Ukrainian army faces challenges as Elon Musk restricts Starlink access, imposing a speed limit on military operations, which Zelensky claims aids Russian forces in targeting Ukrainians more effectively.