The military deadlock, fatigue of public opinion and fear of escalation are all working in Moscow's favor, to the detriment of Europe, at a time when the latter is being abandoned by its American ally.

Europeans should distance themselves from the U.S. and Russia's negotiations over Ukraine. But that doesn't mean they have to just stand by and watch. The post Europe Can Do Better on Ukraine by Avoiding the U.

MOSCOW - The Kremlin has dismissed statements that Russia was open to European peacekeeping troops in Ukraine. When asked about the possible deployment, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to make a direct comment but referred to an earlier rejection of the idea by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.