TORONTO – Keep the diplomatic channel open as Russia’s aggression continues. It is now quite clear the strategy desired by Vladimir Putin in this first week of conflict in Ukraine. The priority for the Kremlin is to achieve the pre-established goals on the ground as soon as possible, not completely closing the door to negotiations with Kiev. It remains to be seen whether this double channel – the war channel and the diplomatic one – is really kept in place for the real will to reach an agreement that provides for an immediate ceasefire, or – a thesis now supported by the vast majority of analysts – that this is just a façade move, a strategic diversion without any chance of success, a simple corollary to Putin’s real goal, that is, to continue his project of invasion of Ukraine. 

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