@randahl My observation, from very little knowledge, that I have about the war: Putin has sent everything he had on offensive on Chasiv Yar, with no success. Then somebody has promised him disturbing Kharkiv, or at least starting an operation to take it later. As it looks, it is going to fail. He doesn't have much more to throw this year, so he starts talking about ceasefire. An operational break to gather some resources. He starts talking rationally everytime when he is losing. He must lose.