The Kremlin said there are no breakthroughs in talks with Ukraine as skeptical NATO allies evaluate whether Russia’s promise to scale back military operations in Ukraine marks a turning point in the conflict or simply a tactical shift. Attacks continued to be reported near Kyiv. President Joe Biden said he’ll wait and see whether Russia delivers on a pledge made after peace talks in Istanbul. De-escalation does not mean a cease-fire or complete withdrawal of troops from around Kyiv, said a person close to the Kremlin. Moscow’s likely war goals now are to take two eastern provinces, together with a land corridor from the Russian border to the Crimean peninsula, which Russia annexed in 2014, the person said. NN: Putin’s goal is to bomb Ukraine into submission. He will use his long range rockets which are out of the Ukrainians reach…. The troops are simple cannon flooder…. The Russian way! By the way oil prices are twice what they were a year ago. So what does he lose if his sales are cut in half…… Nothing!!