Putin "Testing Waters" On New Peace Talks

Bloomberg reportingthat Russian President Vladimir Putin, "is testing the waters on whether the US is ready to engage in talks for ending Russia’s war in Ukraine." Sources close to the Kremlin told Bloomberg that Putin has "put out feelers" via indirect channels to, "signal he’s open to discussion, including potentially on future security arrangements for Ukraine."

• The prospect of peace talks at this stage appear unlikely. With no clear pathway for additional aid to Ukraine via the United States Congress, and European aid largely contingent on overcoming Hungarian opposition at next week's extraordinary EU summit, there appears little political or military imperative for Putin to seek a ceasefire.
• Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, in response to a question on the report:“President Putin has stated numerous times that Russia was, is and will continue to be open for negotiations on Ukraine. We are determined to reach our goals. And would prefer to complete it by diplomatic means. If not, the military operation will be continued till we reach our goals.”
• Peskov's comment are in line with remarks he made on Jan, 15 panning the Ukraine 'peace summit' at the WEF in Davos: "Without our participation, any discussions are devoid of any prospect of any results... the unwillingness of the collective West and Ukraine to take into account our security considerations, we continue the special military operation... We will achieve our goals."
• National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said: “We are unaware of the shifts in Russia’s position described.”