So the Trump and Putin meeting in Budapest is now off, this on again/off again erratic Trump communication style offers no reliability or direction. Putin knows he can easily manipulate Trump, he plays into Trump’s vicarious ego, playing him for a fool by stringing him along, telling him he is really a smart guy, whilst secretly laughing at him.

With Poland informing Moscow that Putin’s aircraft will not be allowed to enter Polish airspace on route from Moscow to Budapest, it will be forced to land and Putin will be arrested and transferred to The Hague for trial. Another direct route would take him right over Ukraine if he is brave enough, but with F-16 fighter jets patrolling the skies and ground based missile defences in place, Vladimir is really not that brave.

Even with transponders switched off and flying lights also off, keen Ukrainian radar operators will be scanning the skies. The possibly an Australian E-7 Wedgetail in the air or NATO electronic surveillance, there is no chance of sneaking through undetected. Imagine the irony, the Russian President shot down by a ground based missile system, it will not bring back the lives of those lost on Malaysian Airlines MH-17, but I am sure the families of those murdered would be having a little chuckle.

Trump is slowly starting to work out that Putin does not keep his word, he tells Trump what he wants to hear whilst stalling any chance of a negotiated settlement. Putin makes outrageous demands knowing full well Ukraine will not accept these terms, then the simplistic Trump, eager to make a deal will attempt to publicly pressure Zelensky who would not accept such demands. But Putin tries anyway in a hope that Zelensky is sufficiently pressured by Trump to accept these terms, or hoping Zelensky comes off as the guy stalling the ceasefire.