Putin has lost interest in talks to end the war in Ukraine.
Vladimir Putin is no longer interested in diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict and instead wants to occupy as much Ukrainian territory as possible.
Three people briefed on talks with the Russian president said Putin was seriously considering a peace deal with Ukraine last month.
However, they said he could not see a solution now through diplomatic talks and believed they were “headless”.
A source close to the talks said: “Putin sincerely believes in the nonsense he hears on Russian television and he wants to win a lot.”
And his approach was sharpened after the sinking of the Russian warship Moscow, for which Ukraine has claimed responsibility.
A source said: “Putin was against signing anything… where he does not look like a winner because it was humiliating.”