Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a three-day ceasefire in Ukraine this month, starting on May 8 to mark the end of World War II. This is the second time in the last two weeks that Putin has promised a temporary pause in fighting.

The Ukraine-US minerals deal struck on Wednesday pursuant to fraught negotiations for months raises the prospects for a peace process to end the longest war in Europe in 80 years. At the very least, the development signals a return to civility after negotiations were derailed following an acrimonious exchange in February in the White House between president Donald Trump and president Volodymyr Zelensky.

What’s emerged from the Washington-led effort to end the war in Ukraine suggests a deal that seems likely to be favorable to Russia