Is there a path to a peace plan?

More than 16 months after Russia invaded Ukraine, the number of peace plans, initiatives and offers of mediation from third parties has swelled. What doesn't appear to be expanding is Ukraine's appetite to consider them.

Hi, it's Julius with an update on Russia-Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly said that while Ukraine is open to input from others, it doesn't need intermediaries for peace negotiations.

This is because Ukraine has ruled out compromises over its territory and sovereignty and Russian President Vladimir Putin has shown no signs he's prepared to abandon his goal of completely dominating Ukraine.

"What's toxic about all these proposals is that as a prerequisite to start peace negotiations Ukraine should somehow have to give up some of its territory, whether that's in Crimea and/or its eastern parts," said Peter Beyer, a German lawmaker who is a senior member of that country's foreign relations committee.

On the other end, Putin has claimed peace in Ukraine can be achieved if the U.S. and NATO stop providing Kyiv with weapons.

“If they want to see a negotiated solution to the conflict, it’s enough for them to stop weapons supplies,” he said in June.

Still, retired peace studies professor David Cortright said it's time for Ukraine and Russia to do more talking about how to end the war even if they don't trust each other.

"There's no reason to fear diplomacy," he said. "You don't have to give in or surrender to your adversary. We know from other peace processes that the armed conflict tends to continue even as the diplomacy starts."

More on the Russia-Ukraine crisis:

• Chinese President Xi Jinping warned Putin against using nuclear weapons in Ukraine, the Financial Times reported.
• Gen. Sergei Surovikin, deputy commander of Russian forces in Ukraine, has not been seen in public since the botched Wagner Group mutiny two weeks ago, the British Defense Ministry says.