The offers to negotiate that are coming from Moscow and Kyiv these days can hardly be taken seriously.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Kuleba proposes a peace conference at the UN, but doesn't even expect Russia to take part.
He even makes direct talks dependent on Russia first being brought before a war crimes tribunal.
That is just as unrealistic as are the conditions that Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov calls for an end to the conflict - including recognition of the newly annexed areas in Ukraine.
Basically, both sides continue to stake out their maximum demands.
There is no visible path even towards a ceasefire.
Not to be blamed on Ukraine
Morally and under international law, Ukraine cannot be blamed for this.
An attacked people must know for themselves how long and for what they want to fight.
This is also repeatedly emphasized by German politicians, but Berlin is still happy to give advice.
The SPD general secretary lets it be known that he does not support peace negotiations with Russia "in the current situation".
However, Kühnert is likely to focus less on the front in Ukraine than on that in his party.
Faction leader Mützenich has just called for “diplomacy” with Putin.
There must be a lot of seething under the surface in the party of the turn of the century.