by William Upton, The National Pulse:

Russian President Vladimir Putin says his country is prepared to accept a negotiated ceasefire in its invasion of Ukraine along current battle lines but will continue hostilities if Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the country’s Western allies decline. In recent weeks, the Russian military has managed several critical breakthroughs along Ukrainian defenses and captured more territory than Ukraine took in its 2023 counter-offensive.

The Russian leader is rumored to be frustrated with U.S. and British efforts to dissuade Ukraine from accepting a negotiated settlement to the conflict and President Zelensky’s refusal to engage in talks. “Putin can fight for as long as it takes, but Putin is also ready for a ceasefire—to freeze the war,” an unnamed senior Russian official told Reuters.