Ukraine’s misery is unabated as Russian forces continue to pound towns and cities in an apparent effort to break the resolve of its population. But to what end? Talks have been taking place between the two sides over a possible agreement that might end the bloodshed. Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine’s president, has made positive noises about their progress, saying Russia’s demands have become “more realistic”.

This might have something to do with the impact of Western sanctions and the resistance Putin’s forces are encountering. What the Kremlin had imagined would be a swift operation has turned into a nightmare for Russia. Much of its army seems to be bogged down, demoralised and running out of equipment. Soon, the strength of Ukraine’s resistance will be greater than Russia’s offensive capabilities. Putin faces the real prospect that his invasion will be a military disaster as well as an economic catastrophe for his country.

The fear is that an embattled and increasingly paranoid Russian leadership might reach into its arsenal of biological weapons, or even attack supply convoys inside Nato countries, widening the war. Avoiding such an escalation seems to be the principal foreign policy goal of Western countries, which means the sooner a ceasefire can be brokered the better.

Can the outlines of an agreement be detected in Zelensky’s acknowledgement that Ukraine will never be a Nato member, which was a key Russian demand? Its neutrality would have to be guaranteed, but Putin would also press for territorial gains to save face at home. Is any of this possible? Those preaching caution are wise to do so, but it is to the credit of President Zelensky and the extraordinary resistance of his people that such an outcome can be seriously contemplated.