Compromise options yet to emerge in Ukraine talks
Significance The first four-party summit in three years gave President Volodymyr Zelensky his first introduction to the 'Normandy format', and also to Russian President Vladimir Putin, with whom he also had a separate meeting. Zelensky was elected on a promise to bring peace but has been consistently warned by opponents that giving too much away would count as betrayal. In that sense the summit was a success for him: little was agreed but the atmospherics were positive. Impacts Progress on peace is unlikely to be fast enough to prevent EU sanctions on Russia, which run to June, being extended to end-December. Zelensky's success in not making concessions will reduce the intensity of domestic opposition, but not for long. The revival of talks creates space for Zelensky's team to focus on economic policy and governance.