Russia struck a sedate tone on Friday but acknowledged grounds for cautious optimism, after only backing the "idea" of a U.S. brokered 30-day ceasefire with firm caveats.

The last time Ukraine signed a peace accord with Russia, 10 years ago, it brought only sporadic violence, mounting distrust, and eventually full-scale war. Here’s what we can learn from that history.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, dressed in military fatigues, ordered the swift defeat of Ukrainian forces in western Russia, a signal to the United States that Moscow holds the military initiative as they prepare to discuss a ceasefire.