Putin has existential reason for dragging his feet: peace means demobilisation and the return of 100s of 1000s of troops, often maimed, psychologically damaged, cheated by their generals, unemployable and angry , in provincial towns across Russia.
(£) https://www.thetimes.com/comment/columnists/article/trump-putin-russia-ukraine-war-deal-history-8bs2t59tt
Good column