"It's not surprising that Putin is wearing a smile - this week has been his most successful since instigating aggression towards Ukraine"

In the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin has taken centre stage, hijacking diplomatic efforts and leaving his enemies in the West in disarray.

At a recent White House summit, European nations attempted to draw America into supporting guarantees against Russia attacking Ukraine. However, these efforts were spiked by Putin, who is reported to have deceived Donald Trump and his team about security guarantees for Ukraine.

The Russian leader has revived an old idea that would give Moscow a veto over any such guarantees, a proposal for the Istanbul framework agreement made in early 2022 by Russia itself. This framework, if implemented, could allow Russia to block efforts to protect Ukraine from another Russian invasion.

Putin's tactics have not gone unnoticed. Analysts agree that he has deceived Trump's officials, who claimed Putin agreed to NATO-style guarantees for post-war Ukraine, but this is not true.

The war in Ukraine continues to cause wounds for Ukraine, and Europe, with 12 times the economic might of Russia, appears unable to replace American leadership. The European nations' continued energy purchases from Russia, totaling more than €20bn annually, are exacerbating the conflict, helping Moscow fund its invasion of Ukraine.

Europe remains seemingly incapacitated in its response to the situation in Ukraine. The Russian military is raising its game in the conflict, while Putin issues ominous warnings to stymie security guarantees for Ukraine.

Despite this, Putin is no longer a global pariah. He has received support from both the United States and China, and even from allies like China and North Korea. The discussion suggests that Putin may have some sort of influence over President Trump.

The conflict in Ukraine continues, with Putin's Ukraine policy remaining in a cycle of diplomacy, impatience, and repeated negotiations with Putin. The future of Ukraine hangs in the balance, as the world watches this complex dance of power unfold.