Just as their forces are stalemated on the battlefield, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky are in a rhetorical standoff over preconditions for peace talks. Putin offered to begin talks Thursday in Istanbul under the auspices of Turkey with no preconditions,

Will Zelensky empty-chair Putin in front of Trump after calling Russia’s bluff on peace talks? - ANALYSIS: As Turkey offers to mediate between Russia and Ukraine on Thursday and Donald Trump hints he may come too,