Analysis: Peace deal still feels far away with Moscow's demands set in stone By Ivor Bennett, Moscow correspondent I think Russia will be quite content that the peace talks in London have been downgraded, because it gives them another chance to try to blame Ukraine for the lack of progress. "Not possible to narrow positions" was the reason the Kremlin suggested for the development, in reference to the relationship between Washington and Kyiv. I'm sure Moscow will seek to push that point when US envoy Steve Witkoff is in town later this week - that Ukraine are the difficult ones, not Russia, when it comes to trying to reach a peace deal. Ever since Donald Trump threatened to walk away from talks at the end of last week, it feels like Russia has been falling over itself to show a willingness to make progress. First it was the surprise Easter ceasefire; then it was Vladimir Putin saying he was open to direct talks with Kyiv (for the first time since the early days of the war); and most recently, reports (via the FT) that Russia has offered to halt its invasion along the current frontlines - which, if true, would be the first sign Russia is willing to back down from its maximalist demands. Previously, it had demanded Ukraine cede those territories in their entirety. But despite this apparent verbal shift in position here in recent days, Moscow's other demands still appear to be set in stone. Just today, for example, the Kremlin once again reiterated its opposition to European peacekeepers as part of future security guarantees for Ukraine. And there's still no apparent movement on issues like NATO membership, sanctions relief and Ukraine's future status. So how ready is Russia, really, to end its war? A peace deal still feels quite far away.