Vladimir Putin is winning in Riyadh

Donald Trump has coveted the prize since it was bestowed on Barack Obama in 2009 .

Talks with Russia underway in Riyadh , Saudi Arabia , may be a gambit to put him in the running.

So far, the talks have produced provisional agreements that favour Russia .

For Trump , the biggest barrier to peace in Ukraine is Zelensky ’s refusal to make territorial sacrifices sufficient to satisfy Putin .

The final agreement, hammered out during talks with Russia that exclude Ukraine , Britain or any European countries, would be presented as a fait accompli.

Trump would then proclaim that he ended a war that has killed thousands of Ukrainians , never mind that polls show which a majority would rather fight on than make large territorial concessions to Russia , even if the US cuts off all assistance.