The US-Russia summit lets Putin get back to the top table of international diplomacy and thumb his nose at critics. Here’s what else he stands to gain.

Moscow's forces are making gains near Pokrovsk in Ukraine's Donetsk region, according to the Institute for the Study of War.

Either in the direction of increasing pressure on Russia, or that Russia realizes of its own accord that this war cannot go on,” he continued. In addition, European officials pushed Washington to use its economic leverage to enforce any ceasefire with strict consequences for Moscow,