VLADIMIR Putin’s envoys stalled peace moves in Saudi Arabia yesterday.
The Russian tyrant wants Ukraine virtually defenceless.
AFPVladimir Putin’s envoys stalled peace moves in Saudi Arabia yesterday[/caption]
Demands include no Western arms and the freezing of front lines to secure his seizure of a fifth of the invaded nation.
Putin’s henchmen — diplomat Grigory Karasin and FSB security agency chief Sergei Beseda — trotted out a list of conditions amid US efforts to broker a deal in Saudi capital Riyadh.
Ukraine’s delegation were first to meet Donald Trump’s negotiators on Sunday evening, having already agreed to abide by a 30-day ceasefire on all fronts.
Putin’s team met US middle men separately, seeking a deal to cut trade sanctions on Russia.
But there was no sign of a ceasefire as Putin’s stalling tactics ensured continuing carnage in Ukraine.
And pessimism grew amid Ukrainian fury over a top Trump aide’s praise for Putin.
Steve Witkoff said: “I don’t regard Putin as a bad guy — he’s super smart.
“I thought that he was straight up with me.”