Russian and Ukrainian teams are holding another round of negotiations, mediated by the US. An agreement was struck for a large prisoner swap at a meeting in Abu Dhabi, but prospects for a ceasefire, let alone a peace deal, are thin.
Meanwhile, repression of reporting on the war inside Russia continues. Investigative newspaper, the Novaya Gazeta, finally closed this week after pressure from the Kremlin.
One of the few foreign media titles to remain in Russia after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine was the Wall Street Journal. Its reporter, Evan Gershkovich, was arrested and imprisoned in March 2023 and spent 16 months behind bars before being released as part of a prisoner swap.
He's written a book about the experience called This Cursed Beautiful Land: A Russian-American Story.
That story starts at a kitschy American-style steakhouse in Yekaterinburg 800km east of Moscow, meeting a source appearing to have secrets to share.
He spoke to 7.30's Sarah Ferguson.
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