Emily Ferris

Currently, Russia sees no reason to come to the negotiating table because it is making – admittedly small – gains on the battlefield and there is no offer that meets their demands,” she told CNBC. “The two sticking points are European military support for Ukraine – the so-called security guarantees and what that actually means – and of course the territorial issue, which Moscow is counting on Ukraine to compromise on.”

The Americans and Europeans are coming at the peace process from two different angles, said Emily Ferris, a Russia expert at the Royal United Services Institute, a London think tank specialized in defense and military affairs. “Europe sees Russia rearming and is worried about the next war,” she said. “The Americans are thinking much more short-term—let’s get this process over the line—cease-fire deal, get Ukraine back on its feet and cobble together some sort of cold peace for another year or two.”

The Americans and Europeans are coming at this from two different angles. Europe sees Russia rearming, and are worried about anything that allows Russia to regroup, learn lessons and up their defense complex to have another go at Ukraine or test NATO boundaries. The Americans are thinking much more short-term—get the peace process over the line, get a ceasefire, get Ukraine back on its feet and cobble together some sort of cold peace for another year or two." No matter who leaked the conversation, it added to a sense of chaos and uncertainty around the war and diplomacy that will likely be fine with Russia, Ferris said. “This is a fantastic place for the Russians to be. They need to do very little here. All their responses show they don’t feel much need to hurry things along."