Ukraine forces are advancing on Kreminna. Russian commanders have left the city, but RU forces are poised to fight. RU has put its best tanks up north of Kreminna in Svatove and has dedicated lots of infantry and artillery to the futile campaign to take Bakhmut to the south. Kreminna may be the weak spot that UA can exploit.
Russian economy is getting hit hard by the oil price cap. Oil exports have dropped dramatically and the Ruble has fallen against the dollar, making imports more expensive.
Putin is now doing a good cop bad cop routine with Medvedev and Lavrov. Putin is claiming that he is ready to negotiate an end to the war while Medvedev and Lavrov threaten annihilation for all of Ukraine if they do not agree to Russia's annexation.