Russia mocks Ukraine during direct talks, raising suspicion of bad faith

Russia is persisting in its efforts to annex parts of Ukraine and Crimea, despite failing direct negotiations with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy after the invasion in 2022. The U.S.-led sanctions against Russia for oil smuggling and arms sales further complicate the peace process. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin is signaling his readiness to exit any agreement through political maneuvers, while Zelenskyy warns of potential war escalation amid ongoing military operations.