My favorite foreign affairs analyst - George Friedman - writes what could be an epitaph for the war in Ukraine. If only the parties to the stalemate can find the will to end it. Hat tip to RealClearWorld for the link. Friedman reasons:
Russia’s goal was to conquer Ukraine. That it has succeeded only in taking a small portion of the east has led to absurd claims that the east was all Russia wanted.
Ukraine’s goal is to keep all of its territory. The problem is that the Ukrainian military isn’t strong enough to compel the Russians out of Ukraine.
Russia cannot occupy Ukraine, Ukraine cannot force the Russians out, and the negotiations must acknowledge as much.
