"Zelensky and Ermak seemed to believe that Putin's army would disappear like Sauron's" in early 2023. Putin was ready to return to the line on February 24, 2022 in exchange for Ukraine's refusal to join NATO and recognition of Russian control of Crimea, but Zelensky and Ermak refused these terms, and the US authorities made no effort to persuade them to accept them, writes the Financial Times, citing The negotiators in the negotiations. "Participants in the negotiations believe that the United States and Ukraine in 2023 missed a potential opportunity to secure peace on much more favorable terms than those that Putin is willing to agree to now," the publication said.

"Zelensky and Ermak seemed to believe that Putin's army would disappear like Sauron's" in early 2023. Putin was ready to return to the line on February 24, 2022 in exchange for Ukraine's refusal to join NATO and recognition of Russian control of Crimea, but Zelensky and Ermak refused these terms, and the US authorities made no effort to persuade them to accept them, writes the Financial Times, citing The negotiators in the negotiations. "Participants in the negotiations believe that the United States and Ukraine in 2023 missed a potential opportunity to secure peace on much more favorable terms than those that Putin is willing to agree to now," the publication said.