Ukraine’s consent to a 30-day ceasefire proposal has handed the Kremlin a difficult challenge at a time when its military has an upper hand in the war.

Kyiv has seized the diplomatic initiative but Russia retains the advantage on the battlefield, having chewed through Ukrainian land.

President Vladimir Putin is no doubt thinking carefully about whether to accept the ceasefire proposal, reject it, or demand amendments to it. The idea of turning down - or amending - the ceasefire proposal seems to be gaining most traction among commentators.