PUTIN PEACE TALKS : HALF A COUNTRY NOW , THE REST LATER , THE ART OF RUNNING OUT THE CLOCK

What happened: Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed another meeting with US President Donald Trump, this time with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the table, reportedly raised in an October 9 call with Trump. Why it matters: The content states Ukraine would be excluded from the proposed summit while Russia and China would have a voice in settling a European war, and that Moscow escaped another round of economic pressure without making a verifiable concession.

Putin peace talks framed as delaying tactic, running out the clock on half a country.

Putin peace talks framed as delaying tactic, running out the clock on half a country. — impact context not separately stored; see What changed.