Interestingly, Putin’s conditions did not include Zelensky’s resignation from the Ukrainian presidency, which has been much discussed recently in connection with the Kremlin’s statements about the “illegitimacy” of the current Ukrainian president. The Kremlin claims that it is ready to talk to the Ukrainian leadership in exchange for territories (which Ukraine, however, will never give up). The expectation of a strategic victory (this illusion is very strong in Russia today) turned out to be more important than personal grievances.