been theater on the part of putin to get the west to the negotiation table. i wonder if you think that that is a fantasy at this point. whether you think that we really are on the precipice of something very serious? >> i think that the invasion has begun. it is a question of how putin wants to carry it out. i am somewhat optimistic when there was this deal for a possible summit between putin and biden. and it was worked out, i think, on monday evening. and this was an effacing gesture that if putin had gotten the west's attention to him that there could be some sort of diplomatic settlement, some kind of a surety security assurances for putin. but he next morning rejected the summit. and i agree. i spoke with a colleague of mine "new york magazine", joshua, also near the separatist area. and he said that people are streaming out of the area. he thought it could be imminent, like this evening, in ukraine. and journalists and other