NYT predicted a freeze in Ukraine's frontline conflict after talks

One of the scenarios for the possible end of the Ukrainian conflict may imply its freezing along the front line, the US newspaper The New York Times(NYT) said on 17 February. The author of the article believes that Russia will absolutely definitely bargain hard for the annexed territories.

"At this point, Ukraine has few options to reverse Russia's recent gains on the battlefield. This means that any deal is likely to involve painful concessions on Kiev's part," the media outlet writes.

The newspaper suggests that Russia will leave the liberated population centers under its control. As for the remaining territorial disputes, they will be resolved over the next 10-15 years through diplomacy.

As a compromise for peace, the Ukrainian authorities will retain the possibility for the country to join the European Union (EU) on the condition that it does not join NATO, the author of the article added.

Counter-position: why Riyadh may accept Putin-Trump talks

And how Saudi Arabia feels about the conflict in Ukraine and sanctions against Russia

Earlier on 17 February, Russia's permanent representative to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya, said that with the coming to power in the USA of representatives of the Republican Party, there were chances that the hot phase of the conflict in Ukraine might end soon. He added that now "diplomacy has come into play", while a cease-fire and freezing the conflict along the line of contact is not a guarantee of a lasting settlement.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that on instructions from Russian President Vladimir Putin, his aide Yuri Ushakov and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov are flying to the Saudi capital Riyadh for talks with the U.S. delegation. The meeting is scheduled for February 18 and will discuss the restoration of bilateral relations between Moscow and Washington and the preparation of a possible dialog on resolving the crisis in Ukraine.

The same day, Ushakov said that the talks on the settlement of the Ukrainian conflict in Riyadh would be bilateral, with only representatives of the Russian Federation and the United States taking part in them. This meeting was agreed by telephone.