Russia and Ukraine

[Thumpalumpacus]

Former US ambassador to the Soviet Union:

Why the US must press for a ceasefire in Ukraine
As a key player in Kyiv’s defense and the leader of sanctions against Russia, Washington is obligated to help find a way out.

[...]

The war might have been prevented — probably would have been prevented — if Ukraine had been willing to abide by the Minsk agreement, recognize the Donbas as an autonomous entity within Ukraine, avoid NATO military advisors, and pledge not to enter NATO. Nevertheless, what was possible even as late as January 2022 may not be possible now. The Russian annexation of additional territory raises the stakes. But the longer the war continues the harder it is going to be to avoid the utter destruction of Ukraine.

https://responsiblestatecraft.org/2022/1...a-way-out/

What's clearly not possible is Russia walking away victorious. Even a clear battlefield victory over the Ukrainian Army leaves the Russians involved in a costly and sapping insurgency. It's almost like they've never read about Vietnam or either war in Afghanistan -- one of which saw themselves evicted after eight years of it, and led to the dissolution of the USSR -- a fact which cannot be far from Putin's attention.

As for the Minsk Agreements, they would not have been needed had not the Russians attacked then. You're advocating appeasement, and probably in cause of an agenda.