Rosenberg: US diplomatic push offers little hope for imminent Ukraine peace

Key Points:

• Diplomatic talks involving Ukraine, the US, and European representatives in Oslo and St Petersburg have been described as "good and constructive," with hopes for a trilateral leaders' meeting to end the war in Ukraine.
• Russian President Vladimir Putin remains reluctant to meet Ukrainian President Zelensky unless the meeting is held in Moscow, and the Kremlin is only considering technical-level talks next month in Abu Dhabi.
• Putin's foreign policy aide expressed skepticism about the usefulness of recent discussions and indicated that while progress is uncertain, some movement toward resolution exists.
• Putin appears confident in his position, possibly viewing the approaching winter as an advantage in the conflict, while US President Trump has taken steps such as pausing some sanctions and purchasing Russian diesel, signaling a desire for improved US-Russia relations.
• A potential meeting between Putin, Trump, and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the upcoming APEC summit has been dubbed "The New Yalta," drawing parallels to historic post-war negotiations shaping global order.