Russia and Ukraine flashpoint

[SanAndreasX]

Hiku said:

I'd like to think that one of Russia's demands won't be to install a puppet government, since that's likely the goal of the invasion, and there's 0 chance of Ukraine accepting that without making Russia work for it.

If so then the negotiations are nothing but PR with no real intention of ending the conflict.
Which is very possible. But it is also possible that Putin really wants to end this before markets open on Monday, and the effect of the economic sanctions will begin to show its real impact.

Of course he does, his government seems to be on increasingly shaky ground. I just hope Zelensky can keep up the fight. I'm sure that Russia's side of the negotiations is going to involve the threat of dire consequences against Ukrainian civilians if Zelensky doesn't comply. If Russia comes up with an awful enough threat that seems credible, Zelensky may feel he has no choice but to agree in order to save lives. Fingers crossed that Ukraine holds the line. If they can, they may end up being the catalyst for Vladimir Putin's downfall.