INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Russian President Vladimir Putin has dropped plans for a peace deal and appears set on capturing more Ukrainian territory after failing to
secure a quick victory in the first phase of the war, the Financial Times reported Sunday, citing three sources briefed on conversations
with him."There was hope for a deal
crimes in Bucha and Mariupol
"He needs to find a way to come out of this a winner."Negotiators suggested Putin switched to a land-grab strategy because he told European
Council President Charles Michel in a call Friday that Ukraine had "put up a wall" and it was "not the right time" to meet Zelensky,
according to the Financial Times."He wants everything to be decided before their personal meeting," said a person involved in peace talks,
adding that Putin is avoiding meeting Zelensky "with all his might."A top Russian general said Friday that the second phase of the operation
would involve taking control of east and south Ukraine to provide a land corridor to annexed Crimea.Officials are increasingly worried that
Russia could resort to using tactical nuclear weapons if it suffers further setbacks in the conflict, the Financial Times cited two people
generals and depicted on Russian television, the newspaper reported."Putin sincerely believes in the nonsense he hears on [Russian]
television and he wants to win big," said one person briefed on the talks.
