russian president vladimir putin has allegedly been planning here. of course, the russians deny they are planning a major incu incursion. but people on the ground see it differently, what people have been able to glean from the conversations, that there are doubts among the officials there. >> natasha, thank you. now, for more on the major meets today in washington and moscow. nic robertson and jeremy diamond join us now. nic, let's begin with you. macron is trying to take a lead european role here, possibly suggesting a way to saturday all parties' concerns. what can we expect to hear today? >> what the kremlin is saying, is they don't expect to break through today. that's the headline at the moment. they expect the conversations to focus on the issue of de-escalation, and the calls for